ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Agriculture: Competition

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the level of competitiveness in the farming industry; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: British farmers work extremely hard in challenging circumstances and the competitiveness of the industry is a key concern of the Government. Between 1973 and 2008, the productivity (measured as total factor productivity(1)) of UK agriculture grew by 55 per cent.(2) In addition to productivity, the international competitiveness of UK farming also depends, at least partially, on the strength of sterling against the currencies of our major competitors. The recent weakening of the pound against the euro since mid-2008 has meant that British agricultural exports are priced more competitively against our European competitors thereby strengthening our position on the EU export markets. However, in order to maintain competitiveness in the longer term, the industry must improve its productivity performance relative to the farming industries in our main competitor countries, and the Government are committed to helping them do so.
	(1) Total factor productivity is a physical measure of productivity and encompasses all businesses engaged in farming activities, including specialist contractors. Total factor productivity excludes subsidies.
	(2) Source: AUK 2008 Chapter 10, paragraph 6.

Animal Welfare Act 2006

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the measures in the Animal Welfare Act 2006, with particular reference to the tethering of equines; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: We have not yet made a full assessment of the effectiveness of the Animal Welfare Act 2006, which came into force on 6 April 2007.

Animals: Diseases

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for which animal-borne diseases inspectors posted at UK points of entry are instructed to search.

Jane Kennedy: For intra-community trade in live animals, there are no checks at point of entry. There are risk based post-import checks at point of ultimate destination (e.g. farm, market), which are carried out by Animal Health for diseases that are notifiable under EU and UK law.
	Live animals can only be imported to the European Community from third countries approved as having equivalent animal health status to an EU member state for the species in question. They must be accompanied by veterinary certification which must confirm, among other things, that the live animals being transported have been examined by an official veterinarian within 24 hours of loading and showed no clinical signs of disease.
	Live animals imported into the European Community from such approved third countries must enter at designated Border Inspection Posts (BIPs) where they are again subject to veterinary inspections by Animal Health for clinical signs of disease and the accompanying health certificates verified.

Animals: Imports

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  how many live wild animals have been imported into the UK in each of the last five years;
	(2)  what proportion of live animals imported into the UK was taken from wild populations in each of the last five years.

Huw Irranca-Davies: This information is not held centrally.
	However figures are available for imports into the UK from non-EU countries of species listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Permits to allow the import of such species are issued by Animal Health's Wildlife Licensing and Registration Service. The vast majority of these relate to imports of species of the class  Anthozoa, which includes sea anemones and corals.
	
		
			   Live wild-taken specimens  Of which :  are of the class Anthozoa 
			 2005 56,595 42,687 
			 2006 55,112 44,256 
			 2007 96,528 79,672 
			 2008 82,102 61,529 
			 2009 (to date) 15,704 11,994 
		
	
	These figures exclude some CITES listed leeches, which are measured in kilograms rather than number of specimens.

Cabinet: Glasgow

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much expenditure was incurred by his Department in respect of the Cabinet meeting in Glasgow on 16 April 2009.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The total amount incurred by the Department for this trip was £1,309.92.

Cabinet: Glasgow

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what expenditure on  (a) travel,  (b) accommodation and  (c) food (i) he and (ii) officials in his Department incurred in connection with the Cabinet meeting in Glasgow on 16 April 2009.

Huw Irranca-Davies: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's travel costs to and from Glasgow were £744.67. The Department incurred no accommodation costs or food costs associated with his travel.
	One departmental official accompanied him, and his travel cost was £500.25. The official also stayed overnight in London prior to the meeting at a cost of £65.00. He incurred no food costs or other accommodation costs.

Departmental Lost Property

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many  (a) BlackBerry devices and  (b) mobile telephones have been lost by (i) Ministers, (ii) special advisers and (iii) civil servants in his Department in each year since 2005.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The following figures show the total reported number of losses of BlackBerry, personal digital assistant and palm-top devices and mobile telephones since 1 April 2004.
	
		
			   Mobile phones  Personal digital assistants including Black B erry and palm-top devices 
			 2004-05 0 1 
			 2005-06 4 1 
			 2006-07 4 8 
			 2007-08 0 5 
			 2008-09 0 12 
			 2009-to date 0 0 
		
	
	These losses were reported by officials of this Department. There were no losses involving Ministers or special advisers.

Departmental Safety

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department spent on compliance with requirements of health and safety at work legislation in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The information requested is not collated centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Fisheries

Richard Benyon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many fisheries officers have been based in each principal coastal town in each year since 2004.

Huw Irranca-Davies: Data for the number of fishery officers in the principal coastal offices of the Marine and Fisheries Agency are contained in the following table. Details are only available from 2006 following the creation of the agency towards the end of 2005(1).
	(1 )Information sourced from internal Marine and Fisheries Agency staff lists.
	
		
			  Office  2008  2007  2006 
			 Plymouth 1 x D1 1 x D1 1 x D1 
			  1 x SFO 1 x SFO 1 x SFO 
			  2 x FO 3 x FO 3 x FO 
			 
			 Brixham 1 x SFO 1 x SFO 1 x SFO 
			  2 x FO 3 x FO 3 x FO 
			 
			 Newlyn 1 x D1 1 x D1 1 x D1 
			  1 x SFO 1 x SFO 1 x SFO 
			  3 x FO 3 x FO 3 x FO 
			 
			 Penryn 2 x FO 2 x FO 2 x FO 
			 
			 North Shields 1 x D1 1 x D1 1 x D1 
			  1 x SFO 1 x SFO 1 x SFO 
			  3 x FO 3 x FO 3 x FO 
			 
			 Blackpool/Fleetwood 1 x D1 1 x D1 1 x D1 
			  1 x SFO 1 x SFO 1 x SFO 
			  2 x FO 2 x FO 2 x FO 
			 
			 Grimsby 1 x D1 1 x SFO 1 x SFO 
			  1 x SFO 2 x FO 2 x FO 
			  1 x FO   
			 
			 Scarborough 1 x SFO 1 x SFO 1 x SFO 
			  4 x FO 4 x FO 5 x FO 
			 
			 Lowestoft 1 x D1 1 x D1 1 x D1 
			  1 x SFO 1 x SFO 1 x SFO 
			  2 x FO 2 x FO 2 x FO 
			 
			 Hastings 1 x D1 1 x D1 1 x D1 
			  1 x FO 2 x FO 2 x FO 
			 
			 Shoreham 1 x SFO 1 x SFO 1 x SFO 
			  2 x FO 2 x FO 2 x FO 
			 
			 Poole 1 x SFO 1 x SFO 1 x SFO 
			  2 x FO 2 x FO 2 x FO 
			  Key: D1 = District Inspector SFO = Senior Fishery Officer FO = Fishery Officer

Fisheries: Quotas

Richard Benyon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on what date he most recently discussed sea fishing quotas with his counterparts in the devolved administrations; and if he will make a statement.

Huw Irranca-Davies: I regularly discuss fisheries issues with my counterparts in the devolved Administrations; the most recent discussion was at the European Agriculture and Fisheries Council on Monday 25 May 2009.
	The latest discussions I have had with my counterparts that focused specifically on quotas were in the run up to our joint announcement on 13 May 2009 to set up a quadrilateral Ministerial Working Group to deliver proposals for quota management and licensing reforms in the UK.

Flood Control

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of mutual aid agreements established by local authorities following the recommendations of the Pitt report on flooding.

Huw Irranca-Davies: We estimate there are hundreds of such agreements in place across England and Wales. These agreements cover a whole range of aspects of mutual aid between local authorities and between organisations which might be called upon during wide-area emergencies. In December 2008, guidance to local authorities on establishing mutual aid protocols was published jointly by the Cabinet Office, the Local Government Association and the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives. The impact of this guidance on the number and standard of mutual aid arrangements will be surveyed during the course of this year.

Floods: Property Development

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will publish the results of the first bidding round for the property-level flood protection grants scheme.

Huw Irranca-Davies: I intend to announce the results of the first round of bids for the property-level flood protection grant scheme shortly.

Hydroelectric Power: Licensing

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average time taken to process an abstraction licence application for hydropower schemes was in each of the last four years.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The Environment Agency has collected information on the time taken to determine hydropower permit applications since November 2008. The time taken to determine applications between receipt of the formal application to issuing a permit is as follows:
	2008: Average time 133 days
	2009: Average time 119 days
	The Environment Agency did not record data centrally on the time taken to determine hydropower permits before November 2008.

Landfill

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the amounts of money raised from the disposal of waste by the  (a) landfill tax and  (b) Landfill Allowance Trading Scheme in the last 12 month period for which figures are available.

Jane Kennedy: Landfill Tax is administered by HM Revenue and Customs. The Landfill Allowance Trading Scheme is a trading scheme between local authorities and as such the Government do not raise money from it.

Litter: Lorries

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make an assessment of the potential for the use of side-flapped, automatic sheeting systems for tipper trucks to contribute to a reduction in littering; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: I have been asked to reply.
	Current regulations require all loads to be secured so that no danger or nuisance is caused to any person or property by the load either falling or being blown from the vehicle. Vehicle users are free to select the most appropriate equipment to meet these requirements and there are no plans to make an assessment of any new systems.

Marine and Fisheries Agency: Official Hospitality

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much the Marine and Fisheries Agency spent on hospitality and entertainment in each of the last five years.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The Marine and Fisheries Agency (formerly the Marine Fisheries Agency) was formed in October 2005.
	The Agency may, with the prior approval of the chief executive and in accordance with DEFRA departmental policies, incur expenditure on hospitality in furtherance of its business including, for example, working lunches, dinners and similar meetings with external stakeholders and representatives of other countries' marine and fishery authorities.
	Since its inception, the Agency has spent the following sums on hospitality:
	
		
			   MFA hospitality (£) 
			 2005-06 63 
			 2006-07 2,104 
			 2007-08 2,150 
			 2008-09 3,158 
		
	
	Information for 2005-06 relates to activities of the Agency from its inception on 1 October 2005. Data relating to previous periods are not readily separable from that of DEFRA.
	The Agency holds no budget for entertainment, and has incurred no expenditure on entertainment.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he plans to reply to the letter of 31 March 2009 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. M. Carey.

Huw Irranca-Davies: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State replied to the right hon. Member on 18 May.

Milk

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent steps he has taken to support milk production; and what assessment he has made of the effect on dairy farmers of recent trends in the price of milk.

Jane Kennedy: While the dairy sector is responsible for determining milk production, DEFRA helps the supply chain address issues through the Dairy Supply Chain Forum.
	I am aware of the current prices and declining milk production, and their effect on the dairy sector at present. This is not specific to the UK, as other EU member states are also experiencing similar drops in milk deliveries. It is normal to see a fall in prices at this time of year due to seasonal production increases. This has been exacerbated somewhat by the high returns experienced in 2007-08 which resulted in an increase in supply, and the fall in global demand seen recently due to the current economic situation.

Reservoirs: Maps

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what recent progress has been made in mapping large reservoirs;
	(2)  how many reservoirs have been mapped since December 2008;
	(3)  what progress the Environment Agency has made towards the objective of providing inundation maps to local resilience forums by the end of 2009.

Huw Irranca-Davies: Between May 2008 and February 2009 the Environment Agency undertook trial and pilot studies on 49 reservoirs. Based on the results of these, it is undertaking two phases of work:
	Phase 1 (March to September 2009): low resolution assessment of downstream risk to life for all reservoirs covered by the Reservoirs Act 1975 (i.e. those over 25,000 cubic metres capacity). As at the end of May, 57 reservoirs had been mapped under this Phase.
	Phase 2 (June 2009 to January 2010): higher resolution assessment on the higher risk reservoirs identified in Phase 1.
	The handover process to Local Resilience Forums is still to be finalised.

Rural Areas: Housing

Daniel Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of rural England is served by Rural Housing Enablers funded by his Department.

Huw Irranca-Davies: DEFRA no longer funds the Rural Housing Enablers (RHEs). From April 2005 to March 2008, DEFRA had part-funded this scheme to allow a smooth transition to local authorities and other funding sources after the Countryside Agency withdrew from this area of work.
	The vision for the long-term funding of RHEs was that they should be supported at a local level by the same local authorities and housing associations whose rural delivery they exist to support. This reflects the Government's desire to enable decisions about priorities to be taken at the local level in response to local needs. Hence, local authorities, housing associations and registered social landowners now fund the scheme.

Smallholdings: Devon

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had with local authorities in Devon on the disposal of small holdings in local authority ownership.

Jane Kennedy: There have been no specific discussions with local authorities in Devon on the disposal of local authority smallholdings. However, in the foreword to the latest Annual Report on Smallholdings, a copy of which is in the House Library, I made it clear that DEFRA fully supports the continuation of the county farm system.
	I understand that in Devon following a Best Value Review in 2001 the council firmly backed the retention of a county farm estate and that the current estate comprises 60 smallholdings, of which 20 are starter farms and 40 progression farms.

Trade Unions

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 11 March 2009,  Official Report, column 439W, on trade unions, what office facilities his Department provides for the exclusive use of each recognised trade union; and what the notional annual value of such provision is.

Huw Irranca-Davies: DEFRA and its Executive agencies provide trade unions access to appropriate facilities to enable them to carry out their duties effectively, provided this does not interfere with departmental work and they are not used excessively. Examples include:
	accommodation
	desks
	computers
	telephones
	faxes
	printers
	stationery
	notice boards
	photocopiers
	pedestals
	filing cabinets
	The notional annual value for accommodation (estimated property holding cost) is approximately £60,000 per annum.
	However, the overall value for facilities could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Waste Disposal

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he expects the first set of quarterly data from WasteDataFlow returns to be published following the Environment Agency's issuing of guidance to waste disposal authorities on listing the final destination of waste.

Jane Kennedy: The first data set of the Landfill Allowance Trading Scheme for quarter 3 of 2008-09 (October to December 2008) will be made available by the end of May 2009.

Waste Disposal: Fees and Charges

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough (Mr. Jackson) of 12 March 2009,  Official Report, column 685W, on waste disposal: fees and charges, which local authorities made initial inquiries about participating in piloting a waste reduction scheme.

Jane Kennedy: We are committed to releasing the names of any local authorities that come forward with formal expressions of interest in piloting a waste reduction scheme; none have yet done so.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

St. Margaret's Church: Repairs and Maintenance

Mark Pritchard: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners what representations the Church Commissioners have received on funding for repairs to the roof of St. Margaret's Church, Westminster.

Stuart Bell: The Commissioners have received no such representations.

TRANSPORT

Airports: Construction

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria his Department uses in assessing the merits of proposals to expand airports; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department for Transport undertook a series of wide-ranging studies to assess the merits of alternative airport expansion options in developing the 2003 White Paper, "The Future of Air Transport". The largest of these, the South East Regional Airports Study (SERAS) announced in 1999, looked in detail at a large number of options for expanding airport capacity in the South East and East of England. Impacts were assessed in accordance with "The Appraisal Framework for Airports in South East and Eastern Regions of England", available at:
	www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/archive/2002/fd/appraisal frameworkforairport1384
	This appraisal framework follows that in the then Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (DTLR)'s "Guidance on Methodologies for Multi-Modal Studies", which formed the basis for the Department's current published transport appraisal guidance—available at:
	www.dft.gov.uk/webtag/
	which has been used, for example, in preparing the Impact Assessment accompanying the Secretary of State's decisions on adding capacity at Heathrow airport.

Aviation: EU Countries

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many  (a) scheduled and  (b) charter flights there were from British airports to (i) the Netherlands, (ii) Luxembourg and (iii) Malta in each of the last five years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The following tables show the number of scheduled and charter flights departing from British airports to the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Malta in each of the last five years.
	
		
			  Table 1: Scheduled flights from British airports to the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Malta 
			  Thousand 
			   2004  2005  2006  2007  2008 
			 Netherlands 45.8 46.5 49.7 51.3 46.0 
			 Luxembourg 3.4 3.7 3.7 4.2 3.7 
			 Malta 2.7 2.9 2.8 3.1 3.2 
			  Source:  DfT analysis of Civil Aviation Authority data. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Charter flights from British airports to the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Malta 
			  Thousand 
			   2004  2005  2006  2007  2008 
			 Netherlands 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.1 
			 Luxembourg (1)— (1)— (1)— 0 (1)— 
			 Malta 1.2 1.4 1.3 1.2 0.7 
			 (1) Less than 50 flights.   Source:  DfT analysis of Civil Aviation Authority data.

Departmental Alcoholic Drinks

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department spent on alcoholic beverages in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Geoff Hoon: Generally, the Department for Transport operates a no alcohol policy. In exceptional cases, where the Department is holding a special event or staff are attending a venue away from their normal office and working long hours necessitating an evening meal, some limited provision of alcoholic drinks at public expense may be permitted at the discretion of a senior civil servant. Spend incurred in such situations is not centrally recorded and this information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Buildings

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies spent on office removal contracts in each of the last five years.

Geoff Hoon: The requested information is provided in the following table.
	
		
			  £ 
			   Central Department  Executive Agencies 
			 2008-09 411 226,816 
			 2007-08 5,257 311,816 
			 2006-07 8,303 153,874 
			 2005-06 3,564 65,938 
			 2004-05 1,251 483,243 
			  Notes:  Central Department Excludes expenditure at DfT HQ and Marine Accident Investigation Branch as the requested data are not separately recorded and are only obtainable at disproportionate cost.  Executive Agencies Excludes expenditure at the Government Car and Despatch Agency, and Maritime and Coastguard Agency as the requested data are not separately recorded and are only obtainable at disproportionate cost

Departmental Rail Travel

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies spent on (i) standard and (ii) business class rail travel in each of the last three financial years.

Geoff Hoon: The information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Reviews

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many  (a) review and  (b) taskforce projects his Department has commissioned in each of the last five years; what the purpose of each such project is; when each such project (i) began and (ii) was completed; what the cost of each such project was; and if he will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: Summary information on taskforces and other standing bodies is available in the annual Cabinet Office publication "Public Bodies". Copies of "Public Bodies 2008" are available in the Libraries of the House. Detailed information on ad hoc advisory bodies is available in the Department's Annual Report:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/about/publications/apr/ar2008/
	Information about reviews commissioned in the last five years is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency: Official Hospitality

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency spent on hospitality and entertainment in each of the last five years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Expenditure by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) on hospitality and entertainment in each of the last five years is as follows:
	
		
			   Expenditure on hospitality and entertainment (£) 
			 2004-05 214,000 
			 2005-06 201,000 
			 2006-07 191,000 
			 2007-08 279,000 
			 2008-09 (1)196,000 
			 (1 )Provisional outturn. 
		
	
	DVLA adheres to the principles on the management of public money (as in HM Treasury's handbook on Regularity and Propriety) and has very strict rules and cost limits on such expenditure. In the main, hospitality costs cover refreshments at meetings with external stakeholders and in relation to workshops held at DVLA premises.

Driving Tests: Motorcycles

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many  (a) injury and  (b) non-injury collisions have occurred during module 1 motorcycle tests since the introduction of the test on 27 April 2009; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The following table details how many collisions have occurred during the modular motorcycle test.
	
		
			   27 April to 15 May 2009 
			 Number of motorcycling tests conducted 1,905 
			 Number of reported incidents on test 14 
			 Injury 10 
			 Non injury 4 
		
	
	None of these incidents involved another person or vehicle. The Driving Standards Agency is working with the motorcycle training industry to improve the standard of preparation of candidates.

Driving: Licensing

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many fraudulent applications for driving licences have been detected by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency in each of the last five years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The following table provides the number of suspect driving licence applications detected by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) in the last four financial years:
	
		
			   Number 
			 2005-06 1,906 
			 2006-07 2,679 
			 2007-08 2,948 
			 2008-09 2,601 
		
	
	This information was not collated prior to 2005.

Driving: Licensing

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many photographic driving licences issued to applicants have subsequently been withdrawn on the basis of  (a) fraud and  (b) ineligibility of the applicant in each of the last five years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: This information is not held in the requested format. The following table provides the total number of driving licences (paper and photocard) withdrawn in the last three full financial years, the applications having been found to have been suspect.
	
		
			   Number 
			 2006-07 849 
			 2007-08 1,348 
			 2008-09 1,303

Driving: Licensing

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many fake photographic driving licences have been recovered by  (a) the police,  (b) the UK Border Agency and  (c) HM Revenue and Customs in each of the last five years; and how many such licences were obtained using a (i) fake passport and (ii) passport obtained by fraudulent means.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The police, UK Border Agency and HM Revenue and Customs do not have statistics relating to the number of false driving licences seized.
	The following table provides the number of fake driving licences referred to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) after recovery by the police in the last three years. These figures refer to counterfeit documents, not issued by DVLA and therefore would not have relied on examination of supporting identity documents.
	
		
			   Forged photocard licence  Forged counterpart 
			 2006 205 5 
			 2007 104 4 
			 2008 94 4

Driving: Lighting

Robert Goodwill: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the risk posed to drivers from left-hand drive vehicles not fitted with headlamp beam adapters;
	(2)  what steps he has taken to encourage drivers of left-hand drive vehicles on UK roads to fit headlamp beam adapters.

Jim Fitzpatrick: It is generally recognised that the main risk if the headlamps on left-hand drive vehicles are not correctly adjusted is dazzle to other road users. No recent assessment has been carried out.
	Vehicles used in the UK, including those visiting temporarily, must comply with the Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations which require that headlamps should not be used so as to cause dazzle or discomfort to other road users. It is the responsibility of those visiting the UK to make themselves aware of these requirements and to make any necessary adjustments to their headlamps to enable them to comply either by using beam adaptors or any other method recommended by the vehicle manufacturer.
	The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency is currently considering whether better information to drivers of large vehicles on how to adjust headlamp beam patterns could be provided.

Eurostar

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effect of the sale of Eurostar UK on the likely price which will be obtained for the sale of High Speed 1.

Paul Clark: The Government are not engaged in a sale of Eurostar (UK) Ltd.
	The continued success and sustainability of Eurostar is an important factor in the value of High Speed 1. This is one of the reasons why the Government continue to examine ways to best further the development of Eurostar to the benefit of passengers and in relation to value for the UK taxpayer. We are doing so in conjunction with our international partners.

Heathrow Airport

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library a copy of the letter of 8 November 2008 he received from Colin Matthews of BAA on the proposed expansion of Heathrow Airport; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The chief executive of BAA, Colin Matthews, wrote to the Secretary of State for Transport on 28 November 2008. The content of his letter was widely reported in the media and BAA issued a press release on the matter which contains the substance of the letter. The press release is titled Heathrow Airport puts environmental limits before new flights and can be accessed in the 'News releases' section of:
	www.heathrowairport.com

London and Continental Railways

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how he plans to maximise the value to the Exchequer of the disposal of  (a) High Speed 1,  (b) Eurostar UK and  (c) other property and remaining assets associated with London and Continental Railways Ltd.

Paul Clark: The Government intend to secure best value in High Speed 1 through a public auction of a long-term concession, the timing of which will depend on an assessment of market conditions.
	Similarly London and Continental Railways Ltd. will develop and dispose of its property assets in due course as is judged to deliver best value in the market.
	The Government are not engaged in a sale of Eurostar (UK) Ltd. and continue to examine ways to best further the development of the successful Eurostar services to the benefit of passengers and in relation to value for the UK taxpayer. We are doing so in conjunction with our international partners.

Lorries: Safety

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make an assessment of the potential for the use of side-flapped, automatic sheeting systems for tipper trucks to contribute to road safety; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Current Regulations require all loads to be secured so that no danger is caused to any person or property. Vehicle users are free to select the most appropriate equipment to meet these requirements and there are no plans to request an assessment of any new systems.
	For information, the Code can be found on the Department for Transport's website at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/vehicles/vssafety/safetyofloadsonvehiclescodeo4566
	Recently our domestic code was complemented by a Code for Europe which can be found at:
	http://ec.europa.eu/transport/roadsafety/vehicles/best_practice_guidelines_en.htm

M25: Road Traffic

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effect on levels of congestion of the road-widening scheme between junctions 1b and 3 of the M25.

Paul Clark: A Post Opening Project Evaluation, which includes the effects on levels of congestion, will be carried out in autumn 2009. The report will be available in April 2010.

Motor Vehicles: Registration

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many automatic penalties the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) issued for failure to submit a statutory off-road notification in each of the last five years; in how many of these cases the Agency had not sent a reminder to the registered keeper previously; and if he will make it his policy that  (a) DVLA issue reminders for renewal of statutory off-road notifications in all circumstances and  (b) automatic penalties are not issued by DVLA unless a renewal reminder has been sent.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency does not have details of the number of automatic penalties issued for failure to submit a statutory off-road notification. However, the following table provides the total number of automatic penalties issued for the combined reasons of failing to submit a statutory off-road notification or failing to relicense a vehicle.
	
		
			   Number 
			 January to December 2004 790,057 
			 January to December 2005 1,419,899 
			 January to December 2006 1,274,143 
			 January to December 2007 1,227,047 
			 January to December 2008 1,124,371 
			 January to April 2009 316,216 
		
	
	Reminders are automatically issued to all customers before the SORN or tax disc expires. There may be occasions when a reminder cannot be issued, e.g. if the vehicle is stolen.

Motorcycles

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the frequency with which lag pipes are fitted to powered two-wheel vehicles other than those designed for racing purposes off the public highway; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department for Transport has not conducted any assessment of the frequency with which modified exhausts are fitted to motorcycles in service.

Network Rail: Consultants

Jim Devine: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department paid in fees to Pender Coucher Associates for work in connection with the establishment of Network Rail in 2002.

Paul Clark: No payments were made to Coucher Pender Ltd. by the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions for work in connection with the establishment of Network Rail in 2002.
	However, the Strategic Rail Authority did engage Coucher Pender Ltd. as consultants in the work to bring Railtrack out of administration.
	The amount paid can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Network Rail: Consultants

Jim Devine: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how much of the fees paid by Network Rail to Coucher Pender Ltd. between 2007 and 2009 was paid in salaries and bonuses to Iain Coucher and Victoria Pender;
	(2)  how much of the fees paid to Coucher Pender Ltd., formerly Pender Coucher Associates, between 2002 and 2007 by Network Rail were paid in salaries and bonuses to Iain Coucher and Victoria Pender.

Paul Clark: Iain Coucher is an Executive Director of Network Rail. Details of his annual salaries and bonuses are published in the company's Annual Reports and Accounts, which can be found on the Network Rail website at:
	www.networkrail.co.uk
	Victoria Pender's employment conditions are a matter for her and Network Rail. My hon. Friend should contact Network Rail at the following address for further information on his questions:
	Network Rail
	Kings Place
	90 York Way
	London, N1 9AG.

Network Rail: Consultants

Jim Devine: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how much was paid by Network Rail to Coucher Pender Ltd. formerly Pender Coucher Associates, between 2002 and 2007;
	(2)  how much was paid in fees by Network Rail to Coucher Pender Ltd. formerly Pender Coucher Associates, between April 2007 and April 2009.

Paul Clark: These are commercial matters for Network Rail as the owner and operator of the national rail network. My hon. Friend should contact Network Rail at the following address for a response to his questions:
	Network Rail
	Kings Place
	90 York Way
	London, N1 9AG

Railways: EU Action

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which EU bodies have responsibilities relating to inter-operability of European railways.

Paul Clark: The European Commission is responsible for policy on the Interoperability of European Railways. The Commission is supported on operational and technical matters by the European Railway Agency.
	Technical Specifications for Interoperability are developed with the input of a variety of representative bodies.
	Draft specifications are consulted on with European social partners:
	BUSINESSEUROPE
	the European Centre of Enterprises with Public Participation
	European Trade Union Confederation.
	Following consultation the drafts need to be agreed with member states and the European Parliament.

Roads: Repairs and Maintenance

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received on funding road improvement schemes administered by the Highways Agency.

Paul Clark: The Department for Transport receives many representations on improvements to roads managed by the Highways Agency. Notably, the English regions (excluding London) submitted in February 2009 their regional funding advice on transport priorities in the period up to 2018-19 which included a number of proposed enhancements to Highways Agency roads of regional importance. The Department announced in January its planned programme of improvements to motorways and major trunk roads.

Southend Airport

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what recent assessment he has made of the effect on levels of greenhouse gas emissions of  (a) passenger aircraft and  (b) cargo aircraft using Southend Airport; what representations he has received on this issue since January 2008; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what discussions  (a) he,  (b) Ministers in his Department and  (c) departmental officials have had with representatives of BAA on proposals for the expansion of Southend Airport in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department for Transport's latest assessment of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from passenger and freight aircraft using the UK's main airports is published in Annex G of UK Air Passenger Demand and CO2 Forecasts 2009. This is available at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/aviation/atf/co2forecasts09/
	No assessment of greenhouse gas emissions from passenger and freight aircraft using Southend Airport has been made, nor has the Secretary of State received any representations on the issue.
	There have been no discussions between the Department for Transport and BAA on proposals for the expansion of Southend Airport. London Southend Airport was purchased in December 2008 by Stobart Group Ltd. from Regional Airports Limited.
	The Future of Air Transport White Paper identified Southend Airport as having a valuable role in meeting local demand and the potential to contribute to regional economic development. The White Paper supported further development in principle, subject to relevant environmental considerations. The two local councils, Rochford and Southend, have recently consulted on their preferred option for the development of Southend Airport. This consultation closed on 15 May 2009.

Speed Limits: Cameras

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much revenue from fines for motoring offences arising from detections by speed cameras was paid into the Consolidated Fund  (a) directly and  (b) from surpluses of safety camera partnerships in each of the last 10 years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department for Transport only holds information about speed and red light cameras operating under the National Safety Camera programme which started in 2001 and ended on 31 March 2007. The Department does not hold details of fines imposed by courts and paid directly into the consolidated fund. The gross surpluses returned to the consolidated fund from the partnerships are shown in the following table. This surplus represents the difference between the total of fixed penalties paid for speed and red light offences detected by cameras, and the costs reclaimed by partnerships in the prevention, detection and enforcement of these offences. A portion of the amount shown will have been deducted prior to payment to Treasury in order to cover departmental costs.
	
		
			   Amount ()  Number of partnerships operating 
			 2000-01 1,356,978 7 
			 2001-02 4,106,086 14 
			 2002-03 17,507,241 28 
			 2003-04 22,746,086 35 
			 2004-05 18,649,830 35 
			 2005-06 15,348,764 38 
			 2006-07 7,955,505 38

Speed Limits: Cameras

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much has been spent from the public purse on the  (a) purchase and  (b) maintenance of speed cameras in each year since 1997.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department for Transport only holds information about speed and red light cameras operating under the National Safety Camera Programme which started in 2001 and ended on 31 March 2007. Under the netting off funding arrangements, safety camera partnerships reclaimed expenditure directly attributed to the prevention, detection and enforcement of speeding and red-light offences from fines issued as a result of camera enforcement. The programme was therefore not funded from the public purse but by drivers who had been caught speeding or contravening red traffic lights.
	Figures from the audit certificates for the partnerships in England and Wales for the seven financial years between 2000-01 and 2006-07 are contained in the table. These show the amount of fine revenue reclaimed by the partnerships and used for the prevention, detection and enforcement of speed and red light offences. The Department does not hold more specific information on purchase and maintenance costs.
	
		
			
			 2000-01 8,611,793 
			 2001-02 15,386,939 
			 2002-03 57,620,133 
			 2003-04 91,877,359 
			 2004-05 95,079,784 
			 2005-06 99,542,900 
			 2006-07 97,929,754

Speed Limits: Cameras

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what methodology his Department uses to estimate the number of lives saved attributable to the installation of speed cameras.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The independent evaluations of the National Safety Camera Programme assessed the effectiveness of cameras using a statistical model which took account of a range of parameters including the effects of long-term trends and seasonal variations. Details of the modelling approach are included in the Appendices to these reports.
	The four-year evaluation, published on 15 December 2005 and available in the Library of the House and on the Department for Transport's website, found a 42 per cent. reduction in people killed or seriously injured at camera sites, that means around 1,745 fewer people killed or seriously injured per annum, including over 100 fewer deaths.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the military situation in Afghanistan.

John Hutton: Progress has been made, but the insurgency remains resilient. The majority of people can go about their daily lives, but in certain areas of the country, particularly in the south and east, significant security challenges remain.

Afghanistan

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of  (a) internal and  (b) external threats to the security of Afghanistan.

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of  (a) internal and  (b) external threats to the security of Afghanistan.

John Hutton: Our assessment is that Afghanistan faces a serious security challenge from within and outside its borders, and this threat will continue for the foreseeable future.
	The NATO ISAF mission will continue to support the democratically elected Government of Afghanistan as it seeks to address these threats using a politically-led approach to dismantle the insurgency; and by building the capacity and capabilities of its security forces.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's policy is on the present and future use of unmanned aerial vehicles by the armed forces.

Quentin Davies: On current operations, unmanned aerial vehicles are giving our troops vital information and are an invaluable asset for our commanders. They have a crucial role to play in future operations and we will continue to invest in them.

Human Rights Legislation

David Heathcoat-Amory: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what guidance he has issued to the armed forces on the application of human rights legislation to personnel on the battlefield.

John Hutton: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for West Chelmsford (Mr. Burns) and the hon. Member for Blaby (Mr. Robathan).

Elections: Service Personnel

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements have been made for service personnel and their families overseas to vote in the forthcoming local and European elections.

Kevan Jones: For this week's elections a Defence Instruction Notice was published notifying personnel of the date and nature of the elections with key dates by which they must be registered, and the Electoral Commission have distributed publicity campaign posters to all units during the past month. Those personnel overseas who are registered as ordinary or service voters can vote by post or by proxy in both the local and European elections. Those registered as overseas voters can only vote in the European elections.

Army Recruitment Contract

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many  (a) in-house and  (b) private sector bids have been submitted for the army recruitment contract.

Kevan Jones: No in-house or private sector bids have been submitted in relation to the Army's Recruit Partnering Project. An industry day was held on 28 May to provide information to companies who may be interested in submitting tenders in due course.

Training: New Equipment

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what procedures are in place to provide that troops receive training on new equipment before deployment to theatre with such equipment.

Bob Ainsworth: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Bexleyheath and Crayford (Mr. Evennett).

Burden Sharing

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions on burden sharing have taken place in the North Atlantic Council.

John Hutton: The North Atlantic Council routinely discusses all aspects of NATO operations, including burden-sharing. Last month, the issue of burden-sharing featured prominently at the Alliance's Summit meeting, and it will do so again when NATO Defence Ministers meet on 11 to 12 June.

Mental Health

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent estimate he has made of the number of service personnel who are likely to experience long-term mental health problems.

Kevan Jones: Less than 0.1 per cent. of regular service personnel are discharged annually for mental health reasons, whatever the cause. The King's Centre for Mental Health Research is undertaking an MOD-funded study looking at the prevalence of mental health disorders in both serving and veteran personnel. This study will inform our mental health care policies when the results are available towards the beginning of next year. A copy will be placed in the Library of the House.

Afghanistan: Military Vehicles

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the main characteristic requirements are which his Department demands for military vehicles used in Afghanistan.

Quentin Davies: The requirements of vehicles for Afghanistan are primarily determined by the specific task the vehicle is to carry out and the threat it is expected to face. This means we need to find the right balance between capability, survivability, serviceability, mobility and physical protection for each task.

Armed Forces Day

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has to mark Armed Forces Day; and if he will make a statement.

Kevan Jones: The MOD will be supporting over 80 community events across the country with major events in every region. The historic dockyard Chatham will host the inaugural Armed Forces Day National Event on Saturday 27 June. We have also invited all local authorities to fly a flag for our armed forces. So far 460 of the 480 borough, city, district and county councils across the UK have registered to take part as have the Governors of Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands.

Defence Storage and Distribution Agency

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the future role of the Defence Storage and Distribution Agency.

Quentin Davies: The Defence Storage and Distribution Agency is being reviewed under the Treasury's Operational Efficiency programme in order to maximise value for money for the taxpayer. A progress report was published in the Operational Efficiency Programme Final Report in April 2009. Work to date has concentrated on identifying a range of possible business models to deliver its services while seeking to minimise its ongoing capital investment requirement. The next phase of work will also include a review of the boundaries, synergies and relationship with the Defence Support Group.
	Further progress will be reported in the pre-Budget statement in the autumn.

Trident

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will hold discussions with the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on inclusion of the UK's future Trident nuclear deterrent in negotiations at the Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference in 2010.

John Hutton: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and I regularly discuss a wide range of issues. The UK gave a detailed statement to the 2007 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Preparatory Committee on decisions regarding the future of the UK nuclear deterrent. We will make further statements to future NPT conferences as appropriate.

Warships

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many warships are in service in the Royal Navy.

Bob Ainsworth: The Royal Navy currently has 85 warships in service. These include aircraft carriers, amphibious vessels, destroyers, frigates, mine countermeasures ships, River Class offshore patrol vessels, inshore patrol craft, survey ships, and 12 submarines.

Service Families

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department is taking to support the families of service personnel.

Kevan Jones: The Ministry of Defence takes very seriously its responsibility to ensure that service personnel, their families and veterans are properly looked after. We also accept our clear obligation to support their families and those who have left the armed forces.
	The Service Personnel Command Paper sets out the nation's commitment to our armed forces, their families and veterans. It is designed to end any disadvantage imposed by the unique demands of service life today, and to improve the level of support given to service personnel, their families and veterans.

Driving Instruction

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans there are for his Department's arrangements for provision of driving instruction.

Bob Ainsworth: In 2007-08, the last full year for which figures are available, the Defence School of Transport at Leconfield provided over 25,000 driving licences to trainees across the armed forces. In addition, a number of local contracts exist to provide driver training. The Army also conducts training for drivers of tracked vehicles. All these arrangements are kept under constant review, to ensure their continuing effectiveness and relevance to operational requirements.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel who have served in Afghanistan have been treated for post-combat stress disorder in each year since 2001.

Kevan Jones: Since July 2007 the Defence Analytical Services and Advice (DASA) organisation has reported on the Psychiatric Morbidity of the UK armed forces. Quarterly reports for the whole of 2007 and the first two quarters of 2008 are available in the Library of the House and on the DASA website found at the following link:
	www.dasa.mod.uk
	Equivalent verified data prior to 2007 are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the cost of treating service personnel injured in Afghanistan in each year since 2001;
	(2)  what funds his Department has allocated for the treatment of service personnel  (a) injured and  (b) diagnosed with post-combat stress disorder as a result of serving in Afghanistan since 2001.

Kevan Jones: Medical policy for the Defence Medical Services (DMS) is overseen by the Surgeon General's Department (SGD). However, the organisational structure of the DMS means that comprehensive primary care and individual operational costs cannot be provided without disproportionate cost as they are disaggregated and embedded in the budgets of individual military units and overall operational budgets.
	In Afghanistan, members of the DMS are deployed to provide the necessary in-theatre care and treatment for all our personnel. Funding for these personnel, and all associated treatment costs, are provided from overall operational budgets.
	In the UK, the majority of secondary health care is provided in NHS hospitals by both DMS and civilian medical staff. The single service medical services are responsible for delivering primary health care to their respective service commanders-in-chief. This includes local medical centres, including GPs, Regional Rehabilitation Units (RRUs), and Departments of Community Mental Health (DCMHs). It is not possible to separate out costs from overall unit medical budgets without disproportionate cost.
	The DCMHs provide out-patient mental health treatment for those requiring it, and, as noted above, funding for these falls to the single service commands. In the relatively few cases where in-patient care is required, this has since 2004 been provided under contract with external providers. The costs for in-patient care of UK service personnel in each year to date are provided in the following table:
	
		
			   Contract value ( million) 
			 1 December 2003 to 31 March 2004 0.4 
			 1 April 2004 to 31 March 2005 4.2 
			 1 April 2005 to 31 March 2006 4.5 
			 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2007 3.4 
			 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2008 3.9 
			 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2009 3.3 
		
	
	The figures cover all service patients admitted for any mental health condition, not just post-traumatic stress disorder. They include the cost of assessing patients as well as any treatment provided, and also include services provided between 1 December 2003 and April 2004 prior to the formal contract start date.
	Prior to 2004, in-patient treatment was provided by MOD's Duchess of Kent Psychiatric Hospital (DKPH) at Catterick. Although figures for each year since 2001 are not readily available, DKPH's costs in the final year of operation were some 10 million.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 18 May 2009,  Official Report, column 1170W, on armoured fighting vehicles, how many Panther Command and Liaison vehicles have been modified for deployment to operations in Afghanistan in the last 12 months.

Quentin Davies: To date, 46 vehicles have been modified to a theatre entry standard, appropriate for deployment to operations in Afghanistan.

Armed Forces: Casualties

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the armed services of each  (a) sex,  (b) age cohort,  (c) regiment and  (d) service stationed in Iraq were (i) killed, (ii) seriously injured and (iii) otherwise injured in each year since 2007.

Bob Ainsworth: Since 1 January 2007, 52 UK service personnel have died while on deployment, or as a result of injuries sustained in Iraq. The figures presented for fatalities are correct as at 19 May 2009. Of the 52 service personnel who have died, information for three soldiers has not been publicly released and therefore their detailed information has been excluded from the tables.
	Since 1 January 2007, three female UK service personnel have died while on deployment, or as a result of injuries in Iraq. These figures are correct as at 19 May 2009.
	The following table provides a breakdown of fatalities by age-group and year.
	
		
			  Age-group  All  2007  2008  2009( 1) 
			 All 52 47 4 1 
			 20 6 5 0 0 
			 20-24 22 21 0 1 
			 25-29 11 10 1 0 
			 30-34 5 4 1 0 
			 35-39 3 3 0 0 
			 40+ 3 2 1 0 
			 Not released 3 2 1 0 
			 (1) As at 19 May 
		
	
	The following table provides a breakdown of fatalities by service, corps/unit and year.
	
		
			  Service  Corps/unit  All  2007  2008  2009( 1) 
			 All All 52 47 4 1 
			   
			 Naval Service(2) All 0 0 0 0 
			   
			 Army All 43 40 2 1 
			  Army Air Corps 1 0 1 0 
			  Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers 1 1 0 0 
			  Corps of Royal Engineers 1 0 1 0 
			  Corps of Royal Military Police 1 1 0 0 
			  Duke of Lancaster's Regiment 5 5 0 0 
			  Foot Guards 3 3 0 0 
			  Intelligence Corps 1 1 0 0 
			  Mercian Regiment 1 1 0 0 
			  Parachute Regiment 2 2 0 0 
			  Princess of Wales Royal Regiment 1 0 0 1 
			  Rifles 9 9 0 0 
			  Royal Armoured Corps 5 5 0 0 
			  Royal Army Medical Corps 2 2 0 0 
			  Royal Corps of Signals 1 1 0 0 
			  Royal Logistic Corps 3 3 0 0 
			  Royal Regiment of Scotland 2 2 0 0 
			  Royal Welsh 3 3 0 0 
			  Yorkshire Regiment 1 1 0 0 
			   
			 RAF All 6 5 1 0 
			  1 Squadron RAF Regiment 3 3 0 0 
			  230 Squadron 1 1 0 0 
			  504 Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force 1 1 0 0 
			  903 Expeditionary Air Wing 1 0 1 0 
			   
			 Info not released  3 2 1 0 
			 (1) As at 19 May (2) Naval Service includes Royal Navy and Royal Marines  Note: The breakdown for Army Corps is presented for the current Army structure, following the merger of many regiments over the last few years. Also, detail of an individual's Corp is subject to change as further information becomes available. 
		
	
	Since 1 January 2007, 79 UK service personnel have been very seriously or seriously injured (VSI/SI) while on deployment in Iraq. The figures presented are sourced from the NOTICAS reporting system and include casualties reported up to 16 May 2009. Casualties within the cause category of 'natural causes' are excluded from the figures.
	Information on very seriously and seriously injured casualties by sex for the time period requested cannot be released without disclosing individual identities.
	The following table provides a breakdown of very seriously and seriously injured casualties by age-group and year.
	
		
			  Age-group  Total  2007  2008  2009( 1) 
			 Total 79 69 9 1 
			 20 years 13 12 1 0 
			 20-24 21 18 2 1 
			 25-29 16 14 2 0 
			 30-34 11 9 2 0 
			 35-39 14 12 2 0 
			 40+ 4 4 0 0 
			 (1) As at 16 May  Note: These figures exclude natural causes 
		
	
	Information on very seriously and seriously injured casualties by regiment, or other service equivalent, for the time period requested cannot be released without disclosing individual identities.
	A breakdown of very seriously and seriously injured casualties by service and year is provided in the following table.
	
		
			  Service  Total  2007  2008  2009( 1) 
			 Total 79 69 9 1 
			 Naval Service(1) 1 1 0 0 
			 Army 70 60 9 1 
			 RAF 8 8 0 0 
			 (1) As at 16 May (2) Naval Service includes Royal Navy and Royal Marines  Note: These figures exclude natural causes 
		
	
	Since 1 January 2007, 409 UK service personnel have been recorded on the NOTICAS casualty reporting system with a medical listing of Incapacitating Illness/Injury (III), Unlisted Condition (UL) or Minor Injury (MI) while on deployment in Iraq. The figures presented include casualties reported up to 16 May 2009. Casualties within the cause category of 'natural causes' are excluded from the figures.
	Since 1 January 2007,13 female members of UK service personnel have been recorded on the NOTICAS casualty reporting system with a medical listing of III, UL or MI while on deployment in Iraq.
	The following table provides a breakdown of casualties listed as III, UL and MI by age-group and year.
	
		
			  Age-group  Total  2007  2008  2009( 1) 
			 Total 409 243 124 42 
			 20 years 47 20 18 9 
			 20-24 166 104 46 16 
			 25-29 91 54 29 8 
			 30-34 46 31 14 1 
			 35-39 39 23 11 5 
			 40+ 20 11 6 3 
			 (1)( )As at 16 May  Note: These figures excludes natural causes 
		
	
	Information on the breakdown of casualties by regiment, or other service equivalent, for the time period requested cannot be released without disclosing individual identities.
	The following table provides a breakdown of listed as III, UL and MI by service and year.
	
		
			  Service  Total  2007  2008  2009( 1) 
			 Total 409 243 124 42 
			 Naval Service(2) 17 4 11 2 
			 Army 365 226 100 39 
			 RAF 27 13 13 1 
			 (1) As at 16 May (2)( )Naval Service includes Royal Navy and Royal Marines  Note: These figures exclude natural causes

Armed Forces: Deployment

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what UK  (a) Army and  (b) Royal Navy personnel are based in the UK Overseas Territories in the Caribbean;
	(2)  what UK armed forces are based in  (a) Anguilla,  (b) the British Virgin Islands,  (c) the Cayman Islands,  (d) Montserrat and  (e) the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Bob Ainsworth: There are no UK armed forces based in Anguilla, the British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Montserrat, or Turks and Caicos Islands.

Armed Forces: Dismissal

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many  (a) senior and  (b) junior officers and personnel at (i) senior and (ii) junior ranks in each service have been compulsorily discharged in each year since 2006-07.

Bob Ainsworth: The tables provided show the numbers of personnel in the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force that have been compulsorily discharged in each year since 2006-07. The Army is unable to provide this information as it is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The Navy figures are for administrative and disciplinary discharge only as all other information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. During this period, the RAF was engaged in a significant redundancy programme to meet manning targets and this is reflected in the table. The RAF figures include personnel who have been discharged under the following exit methods: Administrative and Disciplinary, Medically Unfit and Compulsory and Voluntary Redundancy.
	
		
			  Royal Navy Officers 
			   Calendar Year 
			   2006  2007  2008 
			 Senior Officers (1) (1) (1) 
			 Junior Officers 28 35 43 
			 (1) Figures that are less than five are withheld to avoid disclosure of sensitive information 
		
	
	
		
			  Royal Navy  Other Ranks 
			   Calendar Year 
			   2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Senior Rates (1) (1)  
			 Junior Rates 11 16 13 
			 (1) Figures that are less than five are withheld to avoid disclosure of sensitive information 
		
	
	
		
			  Royal Air Force  Officers( l) 
			   Financial Year 
			   2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Senior Officers 80 59  
			 Junior Officers 30 35 13 
			 (1) Figures are provisional. 
		
	
	
		
			  Royal Air Force  Other Ranks( l) 
			   Financial Year 
			   2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Senior Ranks 594 341 42 
			 Junior Ranks 524 607 177 
			 (1) Figures are provisional.

Armed Forces: Foreigners

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many non-UK nationals of each nationality are serving in each unit of the armed services.

Kevan Jones: The number of non-UK nationals of each nationality serving in each unit cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate cost. Data by service as at 1 April 2008 are provided in the following table:
	
		
			  Trained strength of UK regular forces( 1)  by service and nationality as at 1 April 2008( 2) 
			   All services  Army  Navy  RAF 
			 Total 168,620 93,830 34,530 40,260 
			  
			 British 161,040 87,270 33,750 40,260 
			  
			  Commonwealth( 3) 6,580 6,000 530 40 
			 Antiguan 
			 Australian 80 60 20  
			 Bahamian 
			 Bangladeshi 10 10   
			 Barbadian 10 10   
			 Belizean 
			 Botswanan 10 10   
			 Bruneian 
			 Cameroonian 30 30   
			 Canadian 70 50 20  
			 Citizen of Fiji 2,040 1,950 80 10 
			 Citizen of Sri Lanka 10 10   
			 Citizen of St. Kitts 
			 Cypriot 
			 Dominican 20 20   
			 Gambian 120 110 10  
			 Ghanian 660 650 10  
			 Grenadian 50 50   
			 Guyanese 20 20   
			 Indian 60 60 10  
			 Jamaican 740 700 30 10 
			 Kenyan 120 110 10  
			 Malawian 130 130   
			 Malaysian 10
			 Maltese 10
			 Mauritian 30 30   
			 Namibian 
			 New Zealander 80 60 10  
			 Nigerian 80 80   
			 Other Commonwealth 10 10   
			 Other West Indian 
			 Pakistani 10 10   
			 Papua New Guinean 
			 Saint Helenian 
			 Saint Lucian 200 200 10  
			 Seychellois 10 10   
			 Sierra Leonean 40 40   
			 Singaporean 
			 South African 770 710 60  
			 Swazi 10 10   
			 Tanzanian 
			 Tongan 10 10   
			 Trinidadian 100 70 30  
			 Ugandan 50 50   
			 Vincentian 430 240 190  
			 Zambian 20 20   
			 Zimbabwean 480 460 20  
			  
			  Other 360 280 60 20 
			 Afghan 
			 American 
			 Austrian 
			 Danish 
			 Dutch 
			 Egyptian 
			 Foreign 10 10   
			 French 
			 German 
			 Hong Kong/Chinese 
			 Irish 280 200 50 20 
			 Iranian 
			 Iraqi 
			 Libyan 
			 Mauritanian 
			 Nepalese 60 60   
			 Norwegian 
			 Pacific Islander 
			 Saudi Arabian 
			 Sudanese 
			 Swedish 
			 Swiss 
			 Ukrainian 
			  
			 Unknown(4) 640 279 200 170 
			  denotes zero or rounded to zero.  (1)Trained UK regular forces exclude Gurkhas, full-time reserve personnel and mobilised reservists.  (2 )Provisional.  (3) Includes Zimbabwean and Fijian citizens, who continue to retain Commonwealth status under the British Nationality Act 1981.  (4) Those with an unrecorded nationality.   Note:  Due to ongoing validation of data from the Joint Personnel Administration System, all services strength statistics for 1 April 2008 are provisional and subject to review.

Armed Forces: Foreigners

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many non-UK nationals of each nationality were serving in the armed forces in each of the last 10 years.

Kevan Jones: The following table shows the strength of trained UK Regular Forces as at 1 April 2007 and 2008 by nationality. Nationality data for all three services are only available since April 2007 post introduction of the Joint Personnel Administration System.
	
		
			  All UK Regular Forces( 1, 2) , trained strength by nationality 
			   April 2007  April 2008 
			 Total 172,910 168,620 
			
			 British 165,780 161,460 
			
			  Commonwealth( 3) 6,500 6,580 
			 Antiguan   
			 Australian 90 80 
			 Bahamian   
			 Bangladeshi 10 10 
			 Barbadian 20 10 
			 Belizean   
			 Botswanan 10 10 
			 Bruneian   
			 Cameroonian 20 30 
			 Canadian 80 70 
			 Citizen of Fiji 1,990 2,040 
			 Citizen of Sri Lanka 10 10 
			 Citizen of St. Kitts   
			 Cypriot   
			 Dominican 10 20 
			 Gambian 80 120 
			 Ghanian 610 660 
			 Grenadian 50 50 
			 Guyanese 20 20 
			 Indian 50 60 
			 Jamaican 920 740 
			 Kenyan 100 120 
			 Malawian 100 130 
			 Malaysian 10 10 
			 Maltese 10 10 
			 Mauritian 20 30 
			 Namibian   
			 New Zealander 70 80 
			 Nigerian 70 80 
			 Other Commonwealth 10 10 
			 Other West Indian   
			 Pakistani 10 10 
			 Papua New Guinean   
			 St. Helenian   
			 St. Lucian 220 200 
			 Seychellois 10 10 
			 Sierra Leonean 40 40 
			 Singaporean   
			 South African 740 770 
			 Swazi 10 10 
			 Tanzanian   
			 Tongan 10 10 
			 Trinidadian 90 100 
			 Ugandan 40 50 
			 Vincentian 420 430 
			 Zambian 20 20 
			 Zimbabwean 530 480 
			
			  Other 310 360 
			 Afghan   
			 American   
			 Austrian   
			 Danish   
			 Dutch   
			 Egyptian   
			 Foreign  10 
			 French   
			 German   
			 Hong Kong/Chinese   
			 Irish 260 280 
			 Iranian   
			 Iraqi   
			 Libyan   
			 Mauritanian   
			 Nepalese 30 60 
			 Norwegian   
			 Pacific Islander   
			 Saudi Arabian 10  
			 Sudanese   
			 Swedish   
			 Swiss   
			 Ukrainian   
			
			  Unknown( 4) 310 640 
			  Denotes zero or rounded to zero. (1) Trained UK Regular Forces exclude Gurkhas, full-time reserve personnel and mobilised reservists. (2) Denotes provisional. (3) Includes Zimbabwean and Fijian citizens, who continue to retain Commonwealth status under the British Nationality Act 1981. (4) Those with an unrecorded nationality. 
		
	
	Due to ongoing validation of data from the Joint Personnel Administration System, all services strength statistics for 1 April 2007 and 1 April 2008 are provisional and subject to review.

Armed Forces: Health Services

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many cases of  (a) meningitis,  (b) food poisoning,  (c) pneumonia and  (d) gastroenteritis have been recorded among members of the armed forces serving in (i) Iraq and (ii) Afghanistan since 2003; and if he will make a statement.

Kevan Jones: This information is not held centrally in the format requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Armed Forces: Housing

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many voids there were in the married quarters estate in each month since 1997.

Kevan Jones: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Armed Forces: Housing

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many married quarters of each standard of condition in the married quarters estate there were in each year since 1997.

Kevan Jones: Although figures for 1997 and 1998 are not available, those UK Service Family Accommodation (SFA) properties assessed for their Standard for Condition (SfC) were at the following standard in each year since 1999:
	
		
			   S1fC  S2fC  S3fC  S4fC  Total 
			 1999 3,412 20,194 30,174 2,242 56,022 
			 2000 12,750 28,352 15,667 605 57,374 
			 2001 15,623 31,936 7,061 1,078 55,698 
			 2002 20,699 26,007 4,877 349 51,932 
			 2003 23,827 23,772 3,481 203 51,283 
			 2004 25,276 22,215 3,083 146 50,720 
			 2005 26,426 20,774 2,792 195 50,187 
			 2006 28,796 18,950 2,309 159 50,214 
			 2007 29,691 17,910 2,165 145 49,911 
			 2008 28,354 17,414 2,098 109 47,975 
		
	
	Like for like figures are not available for the overseas SFA estate.
	For the latest number of SFA in England and Wales at each SfC I refer the hon. Member to my written ministerial statement of 17 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 43-44WS. As at March 2009, SFA in Scotland was at the following SFC:
	
		
			  SfC  Properties 
			 S1fC 3,120 
			 S2fC 102 
			 S3fC 5

Armed Forces: Housing

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the new spend on  (a) each married quarters estate and  (b) married quarters in total (i) was in 2008-09 and (ii) is projected to be in each of the next five years.

Kevan Jones: In 2008-09 the Ministry of Defence spent some 48 million on new projects and upgrades relating to its worldwide holdings of Service Family Accommodation (SFA). Of this expenditure around 40 million was in respect of SFA in the UK, 7 million in Cyprus and 1 million in Germany.
	A breakdown of the major elements of expenditure on the UK SFA, by location is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Location   million 
			 Abingdon 0.8 
			 Aldershot 1.1 
			 Brize Norton 1.0 
			 Blandford 5.9 
			 Bulford 0.4 
			 Catterick 0.2 
			 Chester 6.0 
			 Chicksands 2.0 
			 Colchester 0.7 
			 Coningsby 0.7 
			 Cranwell 0.2 
			 Craigiehall 0.5 
			 Elgin 0.4 
			 Giffnock/Hampden 0.2 
			 High Wycombe 1.5 
			 Leeming 1.6 
			 Leuchars 0.4 
			 Lisburn, Northern Ireland 4.1 
			 Innsworth 2.0 
			 Invicta Park 3.5 
			 Peninsular Towers, London 0.4 
			 Warminster 0.8 
			 Williams Gardens, Putney 3.0 
			 Total 37.4 
		
	
	The Department was planning to spend 48 million in each year of the next five years on the upgrade of SFA to its highest standard for condition. However as the hon. Member will know from the Budget statement on 22 April 2009, this Department is bringing forward 50 million to be spent on accommodation.
	The details of this expenditure have yet to be determined. I will write to the hon. Member when a decision has been taken.

Armed Forces: Housing

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many surplus married quarters he expects to have been ceded to Annington Homes without compensation to the Exchequer by the end of 2009-10.

Kevan Jones: The decision was made in early 1996 to sell some 57,428 Service Family Accommodation (SFA) to Annington Homes Ltd. (AHL), of which some 55,055 were immediately leased back in order to provide accommodation for entitled service personnel and their families.
	When it is identified that there is no future requirement for properties, the leases are terminated and the properties returned to AHL. Since 1996 the MOD has handed back some 16,751 SFA.
	As the properties are not owned by the MOD, compensation is not payable when leases are terminated. The onward sale or disposal of properties is a matter for the company. However, the 1996 Sale Agreement included a profit-share whereby the Exchequer receives a percentage of any profit made on the subsequent disposal of properties and land that form a part of any release to the company. To date the Exchequer has received approximately 156 million under the terms of this agreement.

Armed Forces: Housing

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many emergency maintenance requests were made for properties occupied by service personnel and their families in each month since October 2007; and what the average time was for requested maintenance to take place.

Kevan Jones: The requested information is not held centrally and will take a little time to collate and verify. I will write to the hon. Member.

Armed Forces: Housing

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many mortgage interest payments were made by his Department to service personnel with second homes required for their work in each of the last 10 years; how much was paid for such purposes in each of those years; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: None. There is no mechanism for service personnel to receive mortgage interest payments for any type of property they may have a financial interest in.

Armed Forces: Injuries

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many residents of  (a) Northern Ireland and  (b) the Republic of Ireland serving in the UK armed forces have been injured in enemy action in the last year.

Kevan Jones: Data on injuries suffered by armed forces personnel who are resident of a specific location are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Armed Forces: Medals

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department takes to  (a) verify and  (b) validate accounts of the actions of soldiers for which they are given awards for gallantry.

Kevan Jones: The integrity of the operational honours system is a matter of the utmost importance to the MOD. The award of Operational Honours is an independent military activity. Commanding Officers in the field initiate recommendations for awards, having gathered evidence and corroborated the incidents contained therein. These recommendations are then screened at various levels in the military chain of command and passed to a committee comprising senior military officers, all with operational experience, who decide the appropriate awards.

Armed Forces: Pensions

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average annual pension payment received by a retired British soldier has been in each year since 1997.

Kevan Jones: The available average annual amount paid to AFPS members for all three services for each year since 1999 are as follows:
	
		
			  Financial year  Average pension payment () 
			 1999-2000 5,493 
			 2000-01 5,698 
			 2001-02 5,941 
			 2002-03 6,154 
			 2003-04 6,405 
			 2004-05 6,739 
			 2005-06 6,736 
			 2006-07 6,728 
			 2007-08 6,941 
		
	
	Information for financial years 1997-98 and 1998-99 are no longer held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Figures for 2008-09 are still being finalised.
	The figures provided are based on average pensions paid to former members of the armed forces, their spouses, and dependants. Figures provided are not held in the format requested to reflect average pensions paid to veterans alone. This could be done only at disproportionate cost.
	The figures do not include any Terminal Grants or Commutations paid to AFPS members.

Armed Forces: Recruitment

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many former members of the armed forces in each region have re-enlisted to each  (a) service and  (b) trade in each year since 2000.

Bob Ainsworth: None of the three Services is able to provide this information by region, as it is not held in the format requested. Information for the Naval Service is available broken down by trade, but this is not possible for the Army and Royal Air Force as the information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Total numbers of personnel that have re-enlisted in each year are provided in the following tables.
	
		
			  Re-enlistment into the Naval Service by TradeOfficers( 1) 
			   Financial Year 
			   2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Warfare   2 
			 Air  8 9 
			 Engineering   2 
			 Logistics  2 3 
			 (1) Figures provided include transfers to the Naval Service from the Army and RAF, and also between RN and RM, in addition to personnel having had previous service in the RN or RM. The numbers include all re-entrants: Trained, those not requiring Phase 2 training; Part-trained, those requiring only Phase 2 training; and untrained, those requiring Phase 1 training. 
		
	
	
		
			  Re-enlistment into the Naval Service by TradeOther Ranks 
			   Financial Year 
			   2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Warfare 55 31 66 
			 Air 9 8 18 
			 Engineering 66 36 78 
			 Logistics 34 22 24 
			 Medical 8 4 7 
			 Other(1) 1 3 3 
			 (1) Photographer and Physical trainer. 
		
	
	
		
			  Re-enlistment into the Naval ServiceRoyal MarinesOfficers and Other Ranks 
			   Financial Year 
			   2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Officers  2 4 
			 Other Ranks 91 128 103 
		
	
	
		
			  Re-enlistment into the ArmyOfficers and Other Ranks 
			   Financial Year 
			   2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Number of personnel 260 385 512 486 
		
	
	
		
			  Re-enlistment into the Royal Air ForceOfficers and Other Ranks 
			   Financial Year 
			   2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Number of personnel 10 10 18 13 
		
	
	No information is shown for earlier years because these data are not held in the format requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Armed Forces: Retirement

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many applications for extension of service from members of the armed forces approaching retirement have been declined in each year since 2000.

Kevan Jones: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Army: Manpower

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average percentage shortfall against requirement for the infantry rank of  (a) private and  (b) lieutenant colonel was in each year since 2003.

Bob Ainsworth: The available data on average percentage surplus or shortfall of privates and lieutenant colonels for the infantry are provided in the following table. Consistent infantry requirement data for 2003 and 2004 are not available at the level of detail requested.
	
		
			  Percentage 
			  Financial year  Lieutenant Colonel (surplus)  Private (shortfall) 
			 2005-06 12.7 -2.6 
			 2006-07 10.9 -6.3 
			 2007-08 12.5 -10.5 
			 2008-09(1) 13.4 -9.8 
			 (1) Based on first 11 months of the financial year.  Notes: 1. The figures are for trained Regular Army only and therefore exclude Gurkhas, Full Time Reserve Service, Mobilised Reserves, TA and all other Reserves, but includes those personnel that have transferred from GURTAM to UKTAP. 2. The information is based on paid rank.

Astute Class Submarines

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the estimated cost of the Astute-class submarine from the  (a) direct resource departmental expenditure limit (DEL),  (b) indirect resource DEL and  (c) capital DEL was at 31 March (i) 2001, (ii) 2002, (iii) 2003, (iv) 2004, (v) 2005, (vi) 2006, (vii) 2007, (viii) 2008 and (ix) 2009.

Quentin Davies: The information requested is detailed in the following table. The figures include the cost of the Assessment, Demonstration and Manufacture Phases.
	
		
			   million 
			   As at 31 March each year 
			   2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007  2008 
			 Direct Resource DEL 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 
			 Indirect Resource DEL 442 471 694 667 666 651 655 663 
			 Capital DEL 2,256 2,236 3,016 2,817 2,826 3,005 3,143 3,143 
			 Total 2,727 2,736 3,739 3,513 3,521 3,685 3,827 3,835 
		
	
	I am withholding the figure for 31 March 2009 as this information is intended for future publication in the Major Projects Report 2009.

Atomic Weapons Establishment: Expenditure

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the expenditure incurred at the Atomic Weapons Establishment of 800 million in 2008-09, 900 million in 2009-10 and 950 million in 2010-11 is additional to  (a) the capital cost of warheads included in the Defence White Paper,  (b) the 5.3 billion 25 year AWEML and management contract,  (c) the running costs of the current Trident programme and  (d) settlements made under the Comprehensive Spending Review.

John Hutton: The figure of 5.3 billion was the estimated 25-year management and operation costs produced when the AWE Management and Operation contract was extended to a 25 year term. This was published on 22 January 2003,  Official Report, column 14WS. Since 1 April 2008 the financial planning for AWE has made no distinction between these costs and additional investment associated with the Nuclear Warhead Capability Sustainment Programme (NWCSP), which was announced on 19 July 2005,  Official Report, column 59WS. The figures of 800, 900 and 950 million quoted therefore comprise both additional NWCSP investment and the underlying management and operation costs for the years in question.
	There is no programme to develop a new warhead at AWE. The December 2006 White Paper Future of the United Kingdom's Nuclear Deterrent (Cm 6994) refers, in paragraph 5-11, to
	2-3 billion for the possible future refurbishment or replacement of the warhead.
	The decision on whether to refurbish or replace the warhead has yet to be made and will likely be necessary in the next Parliament. This cost is not reflected in any of the figures quoted in the question.
	In service costs of the current Trident programme were provided in a response to the hon. Member for Lewes (Norman Baker), on 13 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1302W. These did not include the cost of AWE.
	Finally, the 2007 pre-Budget report and comprehensive spending review White Paper (Cm 7227), made clear in paragraph D8.7 that additional NWCSP funding, (which is incorporated within the 800, 900 and 950 million figures) was provided to continue the programme of investment in sustaining key skills and facilities at AWE,
	both to ensure we can maintain our existing nuclear warhead for as long as necessary and to enable development of a replacement warhead should that be necessary.

Concept for Special Operations

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the EU  (a) Concept for Special Operations and  (b) Military Rapid Response concept.

Bob Ainsworth: I will place a copy of the EU Military Rapid Response Concept in the Library of the House. I am withholding the document requested on the Concept for Special Operations as disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice international relations between the United Kingdom and the European Union.

Defence

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many  (a) military and  (b) civilian staff of his Department carried out work on the 1998 Strategic Defence Review; which other Departments provided staff to carry out such work; what discussions his Department had with the governments of other countries during that review; how many days were taken to complete it; and how much was spent on it.

John Hutton: A very wide range of civilian and military staff carried out work on the 1998 Strategic Defence Review. The Department also received over one hundred inputs from staff as part of the consultation process. An exact record of the number of staff who contributed work is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The first stage of the review was conducted jointly by the Ministry of Defence and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, in consultation with the Cabinet Office. The Treasury were informed at all stages. The Department of Trade and Industry were involved in all work with industrial ramifications. The views of all Departments on the options arising from the review work were gauged within a Cabinet Office inter-departmental committee.
	Our NATO allies and other partners were kept fully informed of the process during the period of the review. The NATO and WEU Secretary Generals, Defence Ministers of NATO allies and Five Power Defence Arrangements and Gulf Co-operations Councils were kept informed in letters and at a broad range of NATO and bilateral meetings.
	The review was announced on 28 May 1997 and published on 8 July 1998.
	The exact cost of the review is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, we assess the cost to be in the region of 2.3 million. This does not include normal staff costs, as all MOD staff involved in the work completed it as part of their day to day activities.

Defence Storage and Distribution Agency: Finance

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the surplus of income over expenditure was at the Defence Storage and Distribution Agency base at Crombie in each of the last five years.

Quentin Davies: Over the last five years there has been no surplus of income over expenditure at any of the Defence Storage and Distribution Agency (DSDA) bases, including Crombie.

Defence Storage and Distribution Agency: Location

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons it was decided not to transfer the Defence Storage and Distribution Agency base at Crombie to the Clyde.

Quentin Davies: Due to changes in the MOD's maritime business there was a need to conduct further analysis into the future requirement for the provision of support services by DSDA Crombie and it was decided it would be unwise to transfer the ownership of the site before this work was completed.

Defence Storage and Distribution Agency: Manpower

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received from Commander-in-Chief Fleet on the minimum number of posts required to ensure the safe conduct of operations at the Defence Storage and Distribution Agency, Crombie.

Quentin Davies: No such representations have been received from Commander-in-Chief Fleet.

Defence Storage and Distribution Agency: Manpower

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Defence Equipment and Support risk register for the Defence Storage and Distribution Agency base at Crombie includes a minimum staff requirement.

Quentin Davies: The minimum staff requirement does not appear on the DES risk register but is recorded on the technical site risk register. Also, DSDA is undertaking a study looking at DSDA Crombie's future tasking. In common with all similar projects, a risk register is being produced that will include staffing matters and articulate any perceived risks.

Defence Storage and Distribution Agency: Manpower

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the recommendation of the Investments Approval Board was on the minimum number of posts for the safe conduct of operations at the Defence Storage and Distribution Agency base at Crombie.

Quentin Davies: In February 2006, The Future Role of Crombie Study made recommendations as to the future role and manpower requirements at DSDA Crombie. These recommendations were approved by the then Minister of State for Armed Forces. At the time it was determined that 26 posts would enable the safe and effective running of DSDA Crombie, as the site was to reduce to that of a jetty/waterfront support operation upon the intended drawdown of explosive storage and processing activity by 31 March 2010. Prior to the full implementation of the recommendations, additional work was transferred to Crombie from other DSDA sites, which brought with it an increase in manpower of 14 posts, although future manpower requirements at the site are still being considered. I will write when this work is finalised.

Departmental Contracts

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which services his Department has outsourced in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Quentin Davies: Information on services outsourced is held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Information on the MOD's PFI commitments is published in our Annual Report and Accounts, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House and are available online under the MOD's Freedom of Information Publication Scheme, found at the following link:
	http://www.mod.uk/DefenceIntemet/AboutDefence/CorporatePublications/AnnualReports/

Departmental Manpower

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the post of Director General Safety and Security in his Department is a full-time appointment.

Kevan Jones: Following a change in naming convention, the position of Director Business Resilience replaced that of Director General Security and Safety; it is a full-time post. In keeping with civil service policy on promoting work force diversity and alternative working patterns, full-time positions can be filled by one or more individuals with flexible-working contracts, provided the Department is satisfied that the key outputs of the post can be maintained. The Director Business Resilience post is currently filled on this basis.

Departmental Marketing

Ann Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been spent by his Department on advertising in weekly and regional newspapers in the last five years.

Kevan Jones: The Department is unable to provide this information as it is not held in the format requested. However, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on recruitment advertising on 23 February 2009,  Official Report, columns 23-24W, to the hon. Member for North Devon (Nick Harvey).

Departmental Official Cars

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 27 January 2009,  Official Report, columns 311-12W, on official cars, how many of the cars leased by  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies are over six years old.

Quentin Davies: Only two of the vehicles leased by the Ministry of Defence are over six years old.

Departmental Security

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many breaches of security have been reported at  (a) the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory,  (b) the Defence Storage and Distribution Agency,  (c) the Defence Support Group,  (d) the Defence Vetting Agency,  (e) the Meteorological Office,  (f) the Ministry of Defence Police and Guarding Agency,  (g) the People, Pay and Pensions Agency,  (h) Service Children's Education,  (i) the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency and  (j) the UK Hydrographic Office in the last five years; and what procedures each agency follows when a breach of security involves the disclosure of personal data.

Kevan Jones: MOD units are not required to centrally report all breaches of security and therefore the requested information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The procedures followed when breaches occur are in accordance with the Defence Manual of Security and additionally, in respect of data losses, a Defence Instruction designed to meet the requirements of the Data Protection Act and the Information Commissioner.

Departmental Surveys

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what surveys of  (a) service personnel,  (b) service families,  (c) veterans and  (d) the public his Department has conducted in the last 12 months.

Kevan Jones: The Ministry of Defence keeps all its activities, processes and structures under regular review. As a result, a wide range of internal and external reports, surveys and studies are carried out periodically to collect information on the attitudes, opinions and circumstances of both civilian employees, service personnel, service families, veterans and others dealing with the Department. Information on these is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Ex-servicemen: Health Services

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effect on veterans of closures of dedicated military hospitals and wards for veterans.

Kevan Jones: The decision to close most of our military hospitals was taken over a decade ago, after it had become clear that they did not have a sufficient patient volume or range of military cases to develop and maintain the skills of our medical personnel.
	On a typical day we have barely enough military inpatients, in all NHS hospitals across the UK, to fill two wards. This would be insufficient to sustain even a single, low-level civilian hospital and would require all patients to be brought together in one location, which in many cases would involve a major disruption for families and friends as well as for the patient. Meeting the health needs of veterans is the responsibility of the NHS and in the main their needs will reflect the health needs of the wider population. The same argument of not sending patients to a single dedicated hospital to keep it viable would apply equally to the national veteran patient population.
	The House of Commons Defence Select Committee agreed with the policy finding:
	the arguments in favour of the closure of the stand-alone Service hospitals irresistible. We accept that the reduction in numbers of personnel which took place in the Armed Forces after the end of the Cold War meant that there was insufficient patient volume to make the military hospitals viable in the long term.

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel have worked in field hospitals during each roulement of Operation  (a) Telic and  (b) Herrick; and how many and what proportion of such personnel were reservist medical personnel.

Kevan Jones: The following tables summarise data available from centrally held records for service personnel for the period January 2003 to April 2009. They represent instances, at one point in time in each roulement, showing the current and planned manning for that roulement.
	
		
			  Service personnel deployed within field h ospitals: Op Telic 
			  Telic  Established posts  Total personnel  Of which reservists  As a percentage 
			 1 (January 2003-May 2003) 939 939 167 18 
			 2 (May 2003-November 2003) 173 189 18 10 
			 3 (November 2003-May 2004) 154 192 40 21 
			 4 (May 2004-August 2004) 128 187 168 82 
			 4a (August 2004-November 2004) 127 198 106 49 
			 5 (November 2004-May 2005) 116 213 37 17 
			 6 (May 2005-November 2005) 116 223 93 42 
			 7 (November 2005-May 2006) 116 204 22 11 
			 8 (May 2006-November 2006) 98 192 28 15 
			 9 (November 2006-June 2007) 98 161 9 6 
			 10 (June 2007-December 2007) 105 162 7 4 
			 11 (December 2007-June 2008) 105 174 11 6 
			 12 (June 2008-December 2008) 92 178 16 9 
		
	
	
		
			  Service personnel deployed within field h ospitals: Op  Herrick 
			  Herrick  Established posts  Total personnel  Of which reservists  As a percentage 
			 4 (April 2006-October 2006) 94 145 3 2 
			 5 (October 2006-April 2007) 98 163 13 8 
			 6 (April 2007-October 2007) 99 203 150 74 
			 7 (October 2007-April 2008) 121 256 132 52 
			 8 (April 2008-October 2008) 121 259 138 53 
			 9 (October 2008-April 2009) 124 228 11 5 
			  Source: Operational establishment tables, January 2003 to April 2009. 
		
	
	The number of posts can vary during the course of a roulement as a response to operational requirements.
	It should also be noted that the numbers of personnel deployed will usually exceed the number of established posts due to variations in tour lengths depending on speciality. Some individuals will have deployed on more than one roulement; therefore the total number of individuals who deployed over the whole period 2003-09 is less than the sum of the total personnel per roulement.

Military Aid: Floods

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department has taken to ensure that relevant advisory expertise from  (a) his Department and  (b) the armed forces is available in the event of an emergency occasioned by floods.

Bob Ainsworth: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is fully involved in preparing for a national, regional and local flood. It maintains a network of military joint regional liaison officers who advise on Defence assistance through the Government offices for the regions and contribute to local and regional resilience forums and crisis management groups. The MOD's head office provides advice to the Civil Contingencies Secretariat and other Government Departments on what can be provided in the event of a national flood to aid emergency planning.
	The Met Office also keep in direct contact through their National Severe Weather Warning Service and as a partner in the Flood Forecasting Centre, providing weather services to emergency responders, Government, business and the public ahead of, during and after periods of severe weather and flooding.
	Following the publication of Sir Michael Pitt's review of the 2007 floods, the MOD and Cabinet Office have recently improved existing central response mechanisms to ensure Defence expertise is available, in an advisory capacity, where existing local or regional arrangements are severely stretched. These changes are now in place but will be formally published in the revised Central Government Concept of Operations which is expected this summer. Further information is available at the following link:
	www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/ukresilience.aspx

Multinational Space-based Imaging System

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many  (a) military and  (b) civilian personnel in his Department are working on the (i) Multinational Space-based Imaging System and (ii) the European Defence Agency's Space Situational Awareness programme.

Quentin Davies: Currently no personnel in the Department, military or civilian, participate in either the Multinational Space-based Imaging System or the European Defence Agency's Space Situational Awareness programme. We observe developments in both of these programmes and have the option to participate in the future.

Nuclear Submarines: Decommissioning

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  when his Department will commence formal discussions with Plymouth City Council on the decommissioning of nuclear submarines at Devonport Royal Dockyard;
	(2)  when he expects the public consultation on the decommissioning of nuclear submarines at Devonport Royal Dockyard to begin.

Quentin Davies: A decision on the location of the dismantling site has not yet been made. A Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) for the Submarine Dismantling Project will consider location options for both the dismantling site and the interim storage of the resulting Intermediate Level Waste. Engagement with local councils on both dismantling and storage sites will take place as part of the public consultation period for the SEA. This is planned to begin towards the end of 2009 and to complete in spring 2010.

Nuclear Submarines: Decommissioning

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the planned dates of decommissioning are of  (a) each of the Royal Navy's Trafalgar class submarines and  (b) its Swiftsure submarine.

Quentin Davies: Against current planning assumptions, which are regularly reviewed, the out of service dates for the remaining Swiftsure and Trafalgar Class submarines are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Out of service date  Vessel 
			  Trafalgar Class  
			 2009 HMS Trafalgar 
			 2011 HMS Turbulent 
			 2013 HMS Tireless 
			 2017 HMS Torbay 
			 2019 HMS Trenchant 
			 2021 HMS Talent 
			 2022 HMS Triumph 
			   
			  Swiftsure Class  
			 2010 HMS Sceptre

Territorial Army: Gurkhas

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many former Gurkha regulars are serving in the Territorial Army.

Kevan Jones: The information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

White Phosphorus

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any munitions containing white phosphorus manufactured in the UK have been used in theatres of operation involving UK armed forces in the last 10 years.

Bob Ainsworth: The UK armed forces inventory does include some white phosphorous munitions that were manufactured in the UK. They were manufactured over 10 years ago and have been used by UK forces in theatres of operation within the last 10 years to protect troops on operations by producing a smoke screen to provide cover.

TREASURY

Banks: Finance

Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider the merits of directing those banks in public and part-public ownership to increase lending to projects promoting a sustainable future.

Ian Pearson: UK Financial Investments Ltd. (UKFI) has been set up to manage the Government's investments in financial institutions as an active and engaged shareholder, operating on a commercial basis and at arm's length from Government.
	The framework document between HM Treasury and UKFI sets a requirement that UKFI will not intervene in the day-to-day management decisions of investee companies. The companies will retain their own independent boards, which will manage the banks and determine their strategy. Decisions relating to whether to lend to individuals or firms, and the terms of those loans, remain commercial matters for banks.
	However, where financial institutions take part in the Asset Protection Scheme, the Government have negotiated quantified lending agreements. RBS and Lloyds have, as part of this, agreed to make substantial extra lending available to individuals and firms in the coming year.
	HM Treasury and UKFI does not comment on individual products offered by or commercial decisions taken by its investee companies.

Banks: Finance

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the cost to the public purse of the Government buying shares in banks.

Ian Pearson: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given on 28 April 2009,  Official Report, column 687, to the hon. Member for Gosport (Sir Peter Viggers).

Capital Gains Tax

Iain Duncan Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has accrued to the Exchequer in capital gains tax receipts in each financial year since 2004.

Stephen Timms: Annual receipts of capital gains tax are available in the National Statistics Table 1.2 available at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/tax_receipts/menu.htm

Church of Scientology: Non-domestic Rates

Bob Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough (Mr. Jackson) of 7 May 2009,  Official Report, column 382W, on the Church of Scientology, whether the Valuation Office Agency recognises venues of the Church of Scientology as places of public worship eligible for an exemption from non-domestic rates.

Stephen Timms: It is for the Valuation Officers of the Valuation Office Agency to decide whether any hereditament is a place of public religious worship which is exempt from non-domestic rates in accordance with Paragraph 11 of Schedule 5 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988. In general, following an Appeal Court decision in 1970, Valuation Officers do not regard premises occupied by the Church of Scientology as being so exempt.

Climate Change

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what timetable he has set for updating his Department's Green Book guidance to enable climate change adaptation to be taken into account in his Department's decision-making processes.

Angela Eagle: Officials from DEFRA and a number of other Departments including the Treasury have been working on supplementary Green Book guidance to enable adaptation to climate change to be taken into account in the decision process. It is planned that this will be issued during the summer and made available to all Departments through the Treasury's Green Book website.

Committee of European Securities Regulators

John Hayes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what recent discussions he has had on the role and powers of the Committee of European Securities Regulators; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what recent discussions he has had on the role and powers of the Committee of European Banking Supervisors; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: The Government have regular discussions with European colleagues on EU supervisory and regulatory arrangements.

Departmental Billing

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies paid in interest to suppliers under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 in the last three years for which figures are available.

Angela Eagle: Neither the Treasury nor its agencies have any record of interest payments having been made under the Late Payment of Commercial Debt (Interest) Act 1998.

Departmental Manpower

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many full-time equivalent staff are employed in the private office of each Minister in his Department; and at what annual cost to the public purse.

Angela Eagle: Public sector staffing costs are set out annually as part of Departments' annual resource accounts. The Treasury Group's audited accounts for 2008-09 will be published later this year.
	The following table sets out details of the number of staff employed in each ministerial office in the Treasury. This includes five members of staff on secondment who continue to be paid by their home Departments.
	
		
			  Minister  Number of full-time equivalent staff 
			 Chancellor of the Exchequer 11 
			 Chief Secretary 8 
			 Exchequer Secretary 5 
			 Economic Secretary 5 
			 Financial Secretary 6 
			 Financial Services Secretary (since October 2008) 5

Excise Duties: Fuel Oil

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his Department's estimate is of the amount which will be raised in revenue from  (a) private cars,  (b) light commercial vehicles,  (c) heavy goods vehicles and  (d) public service vehicles by the two pence increase in fuel duty announced in the 2009 Budget in its first 12 months.

Angela Eagle: As fuel duty is paid by fuel producers at the point when finished fuel products leave the relevant refinery or import terminal, the Treasury does not hold data for fuel duty revenues disaggregated by end use. Forecasts of the overall revenue gain expected from the 1 September 2009 fuel duty increase can be found in Table A.1 on page 153 of the 2009 Budget.

Food

Tim Farron: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make an estimate of the  (a) monetary value and  (b) quantity of waste food disposed of from his Department's premises in the last 12 months.

Angela Eagle: There is no methodology currently in place to assess the value of waste food disposed of from Treasury buildings.
	For 2008-09, 21,040 kg of waste food was disposed of as part of the food waste recycling programme, introduced in March 2008. Through this, food waste is removed from the building and transported to a biogas plant where it is subjected to an anaerobic digestion process. In addition, the process produces fertilizer and electricity as by-products.

Housing: Expenditure

Grant Shapps: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what spending on housing was as a percentage of Government spending in each year since 1997.

Yvette Cooper: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 21 May 2009,  Official Report, column 1509-10W.

Income Tax

Stephen Hesford: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the merits of altering the basic rate of income tax.

Stephen Timms: All taxes are kept under review. Any decisions taken are announced in the usual manner at Budget or in the pre-Budget report.

Landfill Tax

Roger Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the retention of landfill tax receipts by local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: The Treasury has regular discussions with Defra about a wide range of issues. The costs of landfill tax from the Budget 2007 announcement were taken into account when agreeing the local government settlement in the 2007 comprehensive spending review. Decisions on future funding of local authorities are a matter for the next spending review.

Public Expenditure

William Hague: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 11 March 2009,  Official Report, column 419W, on public expenditure, on what date his Department's withdrawal of support for the Overseas Price Mechanism took effect; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: HM Treasury included the final OPM adjustment in the 2008 spring supplementary estimate.

Regional Ministers

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Permanent Secretary of his Department has authorised expenditure on travel costs for the Parliamentary assistant to the Minister for the North East in accordance with the circumstances envisaged in the Cabinet Secretary's letter to Permanent Secretaries of 2 December 2008.

Angela Eagle: The role of Minister for the North East is within the portfolio of my right hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, East and Wallsend (Mr. Brown), who is assisted in those duties by my hon. Friend the Member for City of Durham (Dr. Blackman-Woods). The duties and responsibilities of the Minister for the North East are not matters for the Treasury. I can confirm though that my hon. Friend the Member for City of Durham (Dr. Blackman-Woods) has met her own travel costs and no claims for expenditure on travel have been submitted.

Revenue and Customs: Complaints

Roger Gale: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the level of compliance of the complaints system in place at HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) Ty-Glas with the national HMRC complaints procedures.

Stephen Timms: There is no site-specific assessment for the level of compliance with the complaints system for Ty-Glas. Assurance that HMRC's complaints handling IT system is used in line with national guidelines is managed by Directorate rather than geographical site. Several HMRC Directorates have operations at Ty-Glas.

Revenue and Customs: Manpower

John McDonnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many full-time equivalent staff were employed in HM Revenue and Customs enquiry centres in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Stephen Timms: The following table provides the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) staff employed in HM Revenue and Customs' (HMRC) Inquiry Centres since they became a single business stream in July 2005 shortly after HMRC came into being in April 2005.
	
		
			  As at 31 March:  Inquiry centre FTE staff 
			 2006 1,465 
			 2007 1,633 
			 2008 1,546 
			 2009 1,538

Stamp Duty Land Tax

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough (Mr. Jackson) of 12 March 2009,  Official Report, column 722W, on stamp duty land tax, what assumptions were made about the take-up rate of the stamp duty land tax holiday in calculating the estimated cost of 280 million;
	(2)  what recent assessment has been made of the effect on the housing market of the temporary 175,000 stamp duty land tax threshold.

Ian Pearson: The stamp duty holiday announced on 2 September 2008 provides Government support for homebuyers at a time of difficult conditions. Data on property transactions can be found at
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/survey_of_prop/index.htm.
	The estimated cost of the stamp duty holiday of 280 million was based on the most recent SDLT receipt data and accounting for expected changes in house prices, transactions and behavioural effects available at the time of the pre-Budget report. The Treasury does not publish forecasts of house prices or transaction volumes.
	The cost was updated at Budget 2009 to take account of the latest information available and the extension of the holiday to 31 December 2009. Our latest estimate puts the cost of the original holiday at 250 million, with an additional cost of 90 million for the extension to December 2009.
	Around 90,000 transactions (in addition to those falling below the original 125,000 threshold) have already been exempted from stamp duty by the holiday. Looking ahead the Treasury expects that around 210,000 transactions will benefit from the holiday in total, and that around 60,000 of these will benefit as a result of the extension announced at Budget.

Taxation: Construction

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to incentivise the use of reclaimed materials by granting value added tax rebates for building projects that incorporate recovered or salvaged materials; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: No. The Government have encouraged the use of reclaimed materials in building work through the Aggregates Levy. The levy has been a significant factor in reducing sales of virgin aggregates in England by around 18 million tonnes between 2001 and 2005, with an estimated increase in the use of recycled aggregate of nearly 6 million tonnes.

Valuation Office

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of the Valuation Office Agency's Locality Adjustment Factor table referred to in the MAT2 Case Worker Application User Guide.

Stephen Timms: The figures included in Locality Adjustment Factor tables are used by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) as an input to automated valuation modeling. The release of this information would prejudice the commercial interests of the VOA.

VAT: Repairs and Maintenance

Jo Swinson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider the merits of reducing the rate of value added tax on home maintenance and repairs to the minimum rate allowed under EU law.

Stephen Timms: EU Finance Ministers recently agreed to allow all member states to apply a permanent reduced VAT rate of 5 per cent. to a list of labour intensive services, including the renovation and repairing of private dwellings, excluding materials which account for a significant part of the value of the service supplied.
	The Government apply reduced VAT rates only where we believe these would provide well-targeted and cost-effective support for its policy objectives, compared with other measures, and we continue to keep the impact of VAT on different types of building work under review.

Welfare Tax Credits: Fife

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many individuals in North East Fife constituency have been  (a) overpaid and  (b) underpaid tax credits (i) once, (ii) twice and (iii) three or more times since April 2003.

Stephen Timms: The following table provides a snapshot of information on the number of families in the North East Fife constituency with one, two and three or more underpayments or overpayments of tax credits between 2003-04 and 2006-07. This is based on families who had a 2006-07 tax credit award and lived in North East Fife as at 31 August 2006. Information for 2007-08 is not yet available at parliamentary constituency level; more information can be found at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/tc-delay-07-08.htm
	
		
			  Thousand 
			  Regularity with which overpayment or underpayment of tax credits occurred  Number of awards underpaid  Number of awards overpaid 
			 (a) Once 1.9 1.9 
			 (b) Twice 0.5 1.0 
			 (c) Three or more times 0.1 0.4

Welfare Tax Credits: Overpayments

Tom Brake: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many overpayments of tax credit to residents of Carshalton and Wallington there were in the last 12 months; and what proportion of the number of tax credits for such residents this represents.

Stephen Timms: Estimates of the number of families with tax credit awards, including information on overpayments by constituency, based on final family circumstances and incomes, for 2003-04 to 2006-07 are available in the HMRC publications, Child and Working Tax Credits Statistics, Finalised Annual Awards. Supplement on Payments, Geographical Analyses, for each relevant year. These publications are available on the HMRC website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-geog-stats.htm
	Information for 2007-08 is not yet available at parliamentary constituency level. The geographical finalised awards publications have been delayed following a problem identified with the delivery of geographical information, although this does not affect the UK level statistics which were published on 19 May 2009. More information can be found on the HMRC website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/tc-delay-07-08.htm

Written Questions: Government Responses

William Hague: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to answer Question 267825, tabled on 25 March 2009, on the overseas price mechanism.

Yvette Cooper: I have replied to the right hon. Member.

SCOTLAND

Departmental Employment Tribunals Service

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many actions under employment law have been brought against his Department in each of the last three years; how many such actions were brought under each category of action; and how many such actions were contested by his Department at an employment tribunal.

Ann McKechin: The Scotland Office has not contested any actions under employment law at an employment tribunal.

Departmental Stationery

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of office supplies purchased by his Department were recycled products in the latest period for which figures are available.

Ann McKechin: The Office does not record this information in the form requested.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Security

David Davies: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what the cost to the public purse was of providing security for parts of the Parliamentary Estate occupied by the House of Commons in the latest period for which figures are available.

Nick Harvey: The resource cost was 20.7 million in 2008-09.

BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM

Advantage West Midlands: Finance

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform with reference to Table 26 of the Annual Report and Accounts 2006-07 for Advantage West Midlands, what the nature was of the related party transaction made to  (a) the Liberal Democrats, as declared by Ms Diane Rayner and  (b) the Labour Party, as declared by Mr. Gerard Coyne.

Ian Pearson: In 2006, the agency paid 10,000 for exhibition space, and room hire at the Labour party conference in Manchester. In addition, payments of 200 were made to the Labour party for two-day passes to the conference. Mr. Gerard Coyne is a member of the Labour party and this therefore qualifies as a related party transaction.
	No payments were made to the Liberal Democrats in 2006 and therefore no disclosure was made by Ms Diane Rayner in that period.
	The Related Party Transaction disclosure documents the level of financing that AWM has provided directly to organisations that board members have an interest in, as declared in their register of interests. The individual is considered to have an interest in the transaction only inasmuch as they have a relationship with both AWM and the organisation in question.

Business: Government Assistance

David Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assistance his Department provides to individuals in financial difficulty; what recent representations he has received on this issue; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: The Department provides a broad package of support to individuals in financial difficulties.
	Since 2006, we have run the Face-to-Face Debt Advice Project, employing around 500 advisers in England and Wales, which has now helped over 220,000 people. We are responsible for the Government's drive to tackle illegal money lending, operating a network of enforcement teams nationwide, in which we have invested 16.5 million. We have invested an extra 10 million in the Citizens Advice network to increase their opening hours to help consumers access general advice services in the recession; and we now provide 3.5 million each year to the freephone National Debtline phone service (increased from 1 million last year to deal with extra demand in the recession).
	The Department receives frequent representations from stakeholders on our assistance programmes.

Departmental Correspondence

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the average time taken by his Department to  (a) acknowledge and  (b) respond to letters from hon. and right hon. Members was in the latest period for which figures are available.

Gareth Thomas: The Cabinet Office, on an annual basis, publishes a report to Parliament on the performance of Departments in replying to Members' correspondence. The report for 2008 was published on 1 April 2009. This report and reports for earlier years are available in the Libraries of the House.

Departmental Official Hospitality

Bob Spink: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much his Department has spent on  (a) conference services and  (b) banqueting services in each of the last five years.

Gareth Thomas: The Department (including UKTI) has spent the following on conference services in the last five years:
	
		
			
			 2004-05 1,765,251 
			 2005-06 2,043,380 
			 2006-07 938,688 
			 2007-08 348,111 
			 2008-09 929,585 
		
	
	The Department does not distinguish or have an Accounting Code entitled banqueting services, so no expenditure has been recorded under this title.

Departmental Public Relations

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform on what dates since 1 January 2007  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials in his Department have had discussions with (i) Brunswick and (ii) Alan Parker on matters within his Department's responsibility; and what matters were discussed on each occasion.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 5 May 2009
	No Minister has had any discussions with either Brunswick or Alan Parker on matters within BERR's responsibility. Information about officials' meetings is not collected centrally and it would be disproportionately expensive to provide the information.

Domestic Violence

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what contribution his Department has made to the cross-Government consultation, Together We Can End Violence Against Women and Children, and to the development of Government policy in this area.

Ian Pearson: The Violence Against Women and Girls consultation was launched by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Office on 9 March 2009. Although led by the Home Office, it is a cross-Government consultation.
	This Department contributed to the consultation document, and BERR officials are members of the cross-Government steering group which met prior to the publication and will meet, following analysis of the consultation responses, to discuss each Department's input into the Violence Against Women and Girls strategy. The consultation formally closed on 29 May 2009.

East Midlands Airport: Radio Frequencies

Patricia Hewitt: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what estimate he has made of the effect on the average ticket price of a flight from East Midlands Airport of the use by that airport of administered incentive pricing for the aeronautical radio spectrum.

Gareth Thomas: These are matters for the Office of Communication (Ofcom), the independent regulator for the UK communications industry, and I understand that Ofcom is explicitly considering the impact on East Midlands airport (as well as on others) and expects to publish a revised set of proposals, including impact assessment, in June.

EC Internal Trade

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment his Department has made of the effect on local authority  (a) trading standards,  (b) licensing,  (c) e-government and  (d) environmental health functions of implementation of the EU Services Directive.

Gareth Thomas: The effect of implementation of the directive was assessed in an independent report commissioned by the former DTI when it was being negotiated, which can be found at
	www.berr.gov.uk/files/file27515.pdf,
	and BERR also published an impact assessment of its proposals for implementation in November 2007, but these assessments were not broken down into categories that correlate to the question. A revised impact assessment will be published in May this year and a final version will be published later this year.
	BERR's assessment is that the most significant impact of the directive on local authorities will be to enable users to apply electronically and remotely for licences and authorisations in scope of the directive (including those that local authorities administer) through a Point of Single Contact (PSC) the Government are required to establish.
	The PSC is being funded by BERR and delivered by Business Link. It will include provision for a central application process that local authorities can use, but will also enable them to utilise their own online facilities where these exist.
	While the directive is likely to result in a minor increase to the consumer regulations that trading standards officers are able to enforce under the Enterprise Act 2002, it is not expected that this will result in any consequential increase in trading standards activity.

EU External Trade

John Hayes: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of arrangements for monitoring the diagonal culmination of origin between the EU, the Western Balkan countries and Turkey.

Gareth Thomas: No such assessment has been made. However, although the system of diagonal culmination between the Western Balkans and Turkey is a recent development, European Commission officials are understood to be content with the ability of the countries concerned to effectively control the culmination arrangements.

EU External Trade

John Hayes: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform on how many occasions third countries have imposed punitive tariffs on EU exports since 1997; and what estimate was made of the cost to the UK economy in each case.

Gareth Thomas: Information on punitive tariffs levied against the EU since 1997 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Nor is there any accepted definition of the term punitive in the context of tariffs. However, the World Trade Organisation publishes statistics on the number of Trade Defence measures (anti-dumping, countervailing and safeguard measures) imposed by its members. Measures against the EU as a whole or some of its member states over 1997 to 2008 were as follows:
	
		
			  Anti-dumping, countervailing and safeguard measures( 1)  levied against the European Union or individual member states, 1997 to 2008 
			   Against the EU as a whole  Against the UK individually  Against other individual member states( 2) 
			 Anti-dumping 47 18 164 
			 Countervailing Duties 6 1 16 
			 Safeguards 85 0 0 
			 (1) Usually in the form of tariffs, but are sometimes in the form of quotas or other non-tariff restrictions. (2) These numbers overstate the number of measures, as in some cases the same anti-dumping or countervailing measure is levied against a number of member states simultaneously, so there is some double-counting. For example, an anti-dumping measure levied against the EU as a whole would be recorded once, but a measure against France, Germany and the UK only would be recorded as three separate measures in the table.  Source: World Trade Organisation.

Industrial Health and Safety

Bob Spink: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much his Department spent on compliance with requirements of health and safety at work legislation in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: The information requested is not collated centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Logistics: Bankruptcy

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many logistics companies in each region were  (a) declared bankrupt and  (b) ceased trading in the first quarter of 2009.

Gareth Thomas: The information is as follows:
	 (a) Company insolvency statistics are not available centrally broken down by both region and industry sector. Further, the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) currently in use does not identify logistics as a composite industry grouping.
	 (b) Statistics on business closures are now published by the Office for National Statistics (also, previously, by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform). These are based on calendar years; the latest currently available covers 2007. The industry classification for these statistics is also the SIC, as for  (a) above, so does not readily identify logistics.
	Companies House Executive agency maintains the register of companies and also records routine and event-based information on registered companies, according to the Companies Act and related legislation. Again, industry is classified according to the SIC 2003.

Members: Correspondence

Patrick McLoughlin: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform when he plans to respond to the letter from the right hon. Member for West Derbyshire of 14 January 2009 on the difficulties faced by a constituent's business.

Gareth Thomas: holding answer 20 April 2009
	My right hon. Friend the Minister for Employment Relations and Postal Affairs responded to the right hon. Member on 13 May 2009. I apologise for the delay which was caused by the current high volume of correspondence.

Members: Correspondence

Steve Webb: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform when he plans to reply to the letter of 20 January 2009 from the hon. Member for Northavon, sent on behalf of Mr R Woolley of Yate, on the small business finance scheme.

Ian Pearson: I apologise to the hon. Member for the delay in responding, this is unacceptable and the hon. Member will receive a response from the relevant Minister shortly.

Members: Correspondence

David Laws: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform when he plans to reply to the letter of 2 February 2009 from the hon. Member for Yeovil on links from the South West Regional Development Agency website; and if he will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: I responded to the hon. Member on 1 April 2009.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform when the Secretary of State plans to reply to the letter of 14 February 2009 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton on Mr. Smith, transferred to him by the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Gareth Thomas: My right hon. Friend the Minister for Employment Relations and Postal Affairs responded to the letter from my right hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Gorton on 2 May. I apologise for the delay which was caused by the current high volume of correspondence.

Members: Correspondence

Simon Burns: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform when he expects to reply to the letter of 27 February 2009 from the hon. Member for West Chelmsford on his constituent, Mr. Paul Cook.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 28 April 2009
	I apologise to the hon. Member for the delay in responding, this is unacceptable and the hon. Member will receive a response from the relevant Minister shortly.

Members: Correspondence

John Baron: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform when he plans to reply to the letters of 26 February and 26 March 2009 from the hon. Member for Billericay on his constituent, Mr. Piechuta.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 5 May 2009
	I apologise to the hon. Member for the delay in responding, this is unacceptable and the hon. Member will receive a response from the relevant Minister shortly.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform when the Secretary of State plans to reply to the letter of 12 February 2009 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton on Mr. J. Parris.

Ian Pearson: I apologise to my right hon. Friend for the delay in responding, this is unacceptable and my right hon. Friend will receive a response from the relevant Minister shortly.

Members: Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform when the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State plans to reply to the correspondence from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire of 13 February 2009 on dormant companies.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 8 May 2009
	 I apologise to the hon. Member for the delay in responding, this is unacceptable and the hon. Member will receive a response from the relevant Minister shortly.

Members: Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform when the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire of 5 March 2009 on funding for pubs.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 8 May 2009
	I apologise to the hon. Member for the delay in responding, this is unacceptable and the hon. Member will receive a response from the relevant Minister shortly.

Members: Correspondence

Mark Harper: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform when he will reply to the letters of 23 February and 30 March 2009 from the hon. Member for Forest of Dean on loan guarantees for small businesses, reference FD5310.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 12 May 2009
	Your letter of 23 February was not received by the Department but your letter of 30 March was.
	I apologise to the hon. Member for the delay in responding, this is unacceptable and the hon. Member will receive a response from the relevant Minister shortly.

Members: Correspondence

Janet Anderson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform when he plans to reply to the letter of 6 April 2009 from the hon. Member for Rossendale and Darwen sent on behalf of Northern Joinery Ltd. of Whitworth in Rossendale.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 12 May 2009
	I apologise to my hon. Friend for the delay in responding, this is unacceptable and my hon. Friend will receive a response from the relevant Minister shortly.

Members: Correspondence

John Mason: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform when the Secretary of State plans to respond to the letter of 20 February 2009 from the hon. Member for Glasgow East on the difficulties encountered by small businesses in Glasgow.

Ian Pearson: I apologise to the hon. Member for the delay in responding, this is unacceptable and the hon. Member will receive a response from the relevant Minister shortly.

Members: Correspondence

Patrick McLoughlin: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform when the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business plans to respond to the letter from the right hon. Member for West Derbyshire of 6 February 2009, on his constituent's business.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 15 May 2009
	I apologise to the right hon. Member for the delay in responding, this is unacceptable and the right hon. Member will receive a response from the relevant Minister shortly.

Members: Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire dated 3 March 2009, transferred from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, reference: 124365/SW, on information services.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 15 May 2009
	 I apologise to the hon. Member for the delay in responding, this is unacceptable and the hon. Member will receive a response from the relevant Minister shortly.

Royal Mail

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the cost of employing consultants charged with the task of identifying suitable private sector partners for Royal Mail is; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: The work on the partnership deal is on-going. It would not be appropriate to give an estimate of the cost of consultants' fees at this stage, as this remains subject to a range of variable factors. These include the length of the process and the number of interested parties.
	Government will of course make the expenditure on consultants available once the deal has been completed and the overall costs are known.

Telephone Services: Hearing Impaired

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps Ofcom plans to take to enable deaf and hard of hearing people and sign language users to use the proposed pan-European 116 helpline numbers.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 14 May 2009
	Ofcom have recently moved to Stage Two of a comparative selection process for the first three harmonised, pan-European 116 numbers for services of social value. At this stagein a detailed assessment of applicantsOfcom will be looking at how the bidding organisations address equality and diversity issues in their own workplaces, and how they will address equality and diversity in both relationships with callers and in promoting the services they offer. Bidding service provider (SP)/communications provider (CP) partnerships will also be required at this stage of the scrutiny to present on how they will handle calls from non-English speakers and citizens who cannot communicate effectively through the spoken word. The selection advisory committee can also stipulate and monitor conditions attached to the allocation and use of the number that will ensure ease of accessibility for all potential users of the service.
	Ofcom published a response to the public consultation on allocation and charging for 116 numbers in the UKwhich included representations from the deaf, hard of hearing and sign language user communities. This response, including an Impact and Equality assessment, is available on their website. Separately, Ofcom has recently launched a consultation Access and Inclusion which commits to ensuring that disabled people can access communications services on an equivalent basis to others and propose to work to tackle the most critical issues that they face. This will include assessing the policy case for improving the existing text relay service.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Departmental Air Conditioning

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many of his Department's buildings are equipped with air conditioning systems with output greater than 250kW; how many of these systems have been inspected under the Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007 since the Regulations came into force; and if he will place in the Library a copy of each inspection report.

Shaun Woodward: My Department has only one building equipped with an air conditioning system with output greater than 250 kW for which we are directly responsible. Under the Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 we are required to have this system inspected by 4 January 2010 and we intend to do so.
	We will place a copy of the report in the Library when it is available.

Departmental Air Conditioning

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much has been spent by his Department on carrying out inspections of air conditioning systems within departmental buildings in accordance with the Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007 since the Regulations came into force.

Shaun Woodward: To date nothing has been spent on carrying out inspections of our air conditioning systems in accordance with the regulations.
	Under the Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008, for all systems first put into service on or after 30 December 2008, the first inspection must have taken place within five years of the date when it was first put into service; for air-conditioning systems where the effective rated output is more than 250 kW the first inspection must happen by 4 January 2010; and for other air-conditioning systems where the effective rated output is not more than 250 kW the first inspection must happen by 4 January 2011. We fully intend to comply with all these deadlines.

Departmental Contracts

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which services his Department has outsourced in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Shaun Woodward: The Northern Ireland Office and its agencies outsourced the following services which had previously been provided in-house in the Northern Ireland Office:
	
		
			   Campaign  Department 
			 2004-05 Internal Promotion Campaign NI Prison Service 
			  External Recruitment Campaign NI Prison Service 
			  Wide Area Network Management IT Infrastructure 
			
			 2005-06 Internal Promotion Campaign NI Prison Service 
			  External Recruitment Campaign NI Prison Service 
			  Wide Area Network Management IT Infrastructure 
			  Gardening Hillsborough Castle 
			
			 2006-07 Internal Promotion Campaign NI Prison Service 
			  External Recruitment Campaign NI Prison Service 
			  HR transactional functions Except NI Prison Service 
			  Wide Area Network Management IT Infrastructure 
			  Gardening Hillsborough Castle 
			
			 2007-08 Internal Promotion Campaign NI Prison Service 
			  External Recruitment Campaign NI Prison Service 
			  HR transactional functions Except NI Prison Service 
			  Wide Area Network Management IT Infrastructure 
			  Cleaning Services Forensic Science NI 
			  Gardening Hillsborough Castle 
			  Security services New Juvenile Justice Centre 
			
			 2008-09 Internal Promotion Campaign NI Prison Service 
			  External Recruitment Campaign NI Prison Service 
			  HR transactional functions Except NI Prison Service 
			  Wide Area Network Management IT Infrastructure 
			  Cleaning Services Forensic Science NI 
			  Gardening Hillsborough Castle 
			  Security Services New Juvenile Justice Centre 
		
	
	In making a decision to outsource the Northern Ireland Office and its agencies are mindful of their responsibility to achieve efficiencies and be cost-effective.

Departmental Furniture

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much was spent by  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies on furniture in each of the last five years.

Shaun Woodward: Departmental and agency expenditure on furniture in the last five years is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  000 
			   Department  Agencies 
			 2004-05 201 166 
			 2005-06 189 149 
			 2006-07 325 176 
			 2007-08 340 226 
			 2008-09 233 183 
		
	
	The Northern Ireland Office procures furniture across a number of sites which are mainly located in Belfast and London. This furniture is required to facilitate staff in providing a quality service and the expenditure has been incurred in accordance with the principles of Managing Public Money and the Treasury handbook on Regularity and Propriety.

Policing Board for Northern Ireland: Translation Services

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the estimated cost of providing Irish translation services for Policing Board meetings is in the first 12 months in which such services will be required.

Paul Goggins: That is an operational matter for the Northern Ireland Policing Board, which is independent of Government. The hon. Lady may wish to write to the Chief Executive of the Policing Board.

State Visits

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will place in the Library a copy of the ceremonial protocol appropriate to visits to Northern Ireland by foreign heads of state.

Gillian Merron: I have been asked to reply.
	There is no standard ceremonial protocol appropriate to visits to Northern Ireland by foreign heads of state. Programmes for visits to the UK by foreign heads of state organised by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office will be tailored to the circumstances of each visit and arranged in full co-operation with relevant parties.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Carbon Emissions

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether his Department plans to undertake research into personal carbon  (a) trading and  (b) rationing.

Joan Ruddock: The Government carried out an extensive study into personal carbon trading last year. This was one of a number of potential long term options being explored for making individuals better informed about, and involved in, tackling climate change. The aim was to try and understand the issues surrounding personal carbon trading better.
	The study concluded that personal carbon trading has potential to engage individuals in taking action to combat climate change, but is essentially ahead of its time and expected costs for implementation are high. The findings are available on the DEFRA website at:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climatechange/uk/individual/carbontrading

Climate Change: International Cooperation

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what discussions he plans to have with his international counterparts on measures to tackle climate change before the meeting in Copenhagen.

Joan Ruddock: In the build-up to the UNFCCC Conference in Copenhagen this December my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will be discussing climate change with his international counterparts in a number of multilateral discussions, including through the Major Economies Forum, UN and G8, and through a range of bilateral discussions during the year.
	Already this year my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has undertaken bilateral visits to the United States and China. He expects to make further bilateral visits to countries including Russia, South Africa and India during the year. In addition, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State expects to attend next month's Greenland dialogue, hosted by the Danish Government, bringing together many countries involved in the preparations for Copenhagen.

Departmental Carbon Emissions

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will seek to reduce the level of carbon dioxide emissions from his Department by siting its data centres in the UK in the north of the UK.

Joan Ruddock: The Department does not own or run any data centres.

Energy: Conservation

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many of his Department's employees have been engaged on the Heat and Energy Saving Strategy consultation since the consultation began.

Joan Ruddock: DECC have two members of staff directly engaged on the Heat and Energy Saving Strategy Consultation with contributions from various officials across the Department (at least six) as and when appropriate.

Fuel Poverty

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what pilot projects his Department has undertaken on the use of alternative forms of energy generation for the alleviation of fuel poverty; and if he will make a statement.

Joan Ruddock: On 23 April 2009, I announced that the Warm Front grant level for low carbon technologies for off-gas properties has increased from 4,000 to 6,000. This will increase the potential for Warm Front to provide renewable heating systems to some of England's most energy inefficient housing.
	New technologies will initially be tested in small-scale pilot programmes, before a decision will be made whether to integrate these as full measures offered through the scheme. Warm Front has already begun piloting solar thermal water heating and air source heat pumps.

Fuel Poverty

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what pilot projects run by organisations sponsored by his Department are designed to assess the suitability of alternative forms of energy generation for the alleviation of fuel poverty; which such pilots comprise part of his Department's assessment of the Government's future strategy on fuel poverty; and if he will make a statement.

Joan Ruddock: On 23 April 2009, I announced that the Warm Front grant level for low carbon technologies for off-gas properties has increased from 4,000 to 6,000. This will increase the potential for Warm Front, which is administered by a private company, eaga plc, to provide renewable heating systems to some of England's most energy inefficient housing.
	New technologies will initially be tested in small-scale pilot programmes, before a decision will be made whether to integrate these as full measures offered through the scheme. Warm Front has already begun piloting solar thermal water heating and air source heat pumps.
	The Energy Saving Trust, grant funded by DECC, has been undertaking a number of field trials to assess the in-situ performance of sustainable energy technologies. None of these projects was specifically designed to address fuel poverty objectives although energy saving or lower cost energy supply have the potential to help alleviate fuel poverty.
	DECC is currently undertaking a review of its fuel poverty policies, which will take into account the findings of any relevant pilot projects. Until the review has delivered its findings it would be inappropriate to consider whether to revise the Government's Fuel Poverty Strategy.

Fuel Poverty

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the  (a) age,  (b) construction type and  (c) Standard Assessment Procedure ratings are of each domestic dwelling included in pilot schemes on the suitability of air source heat pumps for the alleviation of fuel poverty wholly or partly funded by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Joan Ruddock: The Warm Front Scheme, which is aimed specifically at the fuel poor, has begun a piloting exercise for 200 Air Source Heat Pumps, to evaluate whether this technology should be brought in as a main measure offered through the scheme. Installation of the pumps is due to begin over the summer. DECC has not yet defined the property type which will be used on the pilot, although it is likely that the properties will all be off the gas grid.
	The Energy Savings Trust will be incorporating a portion of these fuel poor properties into its own trial sample, for which it has provided Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) ratings for 35 non-Warm Front properties out of an intended 80, though it is not known how many of these are fuel poor.
	SAP ratings range from 12 (G rating) to 77 (C rating) for the 35 properties for which data are available. There is a range of house types including detached bungalows, mid terraces and large detached houses. Six of the houses were built before 1900 and so have solid walls, although most of these also had extensions built more recently.

Insulation: Housing

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many cavity walls  (a) were planned to be insulated under the original illustrative mix of measures outlined under the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target and  (b) are expected to be insulated following the changes arising from his Department's proposals announced on 12 February 2009.

Joan Ruddock: The illustrative mix (a scenario produced for impact assessment purposes) published alongside the CERT Order, demonstrated that 2.9 million cavities could be insulated by 2011. This has now been revised to a central case (i.e. a mid-range estimate of what suppliers might achieve) of 2.5 million. This is an illustration of what is achievable under CERT, to demonstrate its cost-effectiveness, and is not a plan of measures to be installed, nor an expectation of what suppliers will do. It is based on a variety of factors including our understanding of the energy supply chain. It is at energy suppliers' discretion which of the eligible measures they promote, with levels of consumer demand a key factor in determining the number of measures installed.

Warm Front Scheme

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will introduce a mechanism to reduce the cost of work undertaken under the Warm Front scheme.

Joan Ruddock: DECC is currently in negotiations with the Warm Front Scheme Manager, Eaga plc, about improvements that can be made to the current contract to deliver the scheme. A number of changes have now been agreed to the service procurement and delivery arrangements, including opening up the scheme to greater competition through liberalisation of both the equipment and installation supply chains, leading to improved value for money.
	Further details of these new arrangements will be announced in due course.

Warm Front Scheme

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many pensioners have received a Warm Front grant in each year since the introduction of the scheme.

Joan Ruddock: The table indicates the number of householders over 60 who have received assistance from the Warm Front Scheme since the scheme's inception in June 2000, although figures for 2000-05 show an incomplete total.
	
		
			   Number of Warm Front grants to applicants 60 or over 
			 2000-01(1) 45,764 
			 2001-02(1) 119,145 
			 2002-03(1) 75,493 
			 2003-04(1) 75,805 
			 2004-05(1) 89,209 
			 2005-06 93,990 
			 2006-07 148,175 
			 2007-08 160,978 
			 2008-09 132,964 
			 (1) Figures for 2000-01 to 2004-05 are solely for the geographic areas of the scheme managed by Eaga. Data on the areas managed by Powergen during this period are not available.

Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act 2000

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what files are held by his Department on  (a) the Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act 2000 and  (b) the Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Bill of Session 1999-2000; and if he will make a statement.

Joan Ruddock: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 21 April 2009,  Official Report, column 557W.

Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act 2000

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what  (a) statutory instruments,  (b) departmental circulars,  (c) consultation documents and  (d) other documents he (i) has issued and (ii) plans to issue in the next 12 months consequent on the provisions of the Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act 2000; and if he will make a statement.

Joan Ruddock: There have been no statutory instruments, department circulars or consultation documents issued on the provision of the Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act 2000.
	As required by the Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act 2000, the Secretary of State publishes an annual progress report to give an update on progress against the targets set under the Act.
	Except in relation to the annual report, there has been no decision made on the issue of any future documents. DECC is currently undertaking a review of its fuel poverty policies. Initial findings of this review are expected in the summer of 2009. It is too early to say whether there will be a consultation in the next 12 months as a result of this process.

WALES

EC Grants and Loans

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what above-Barnett formula additions to the Block Grant for Wales for the EU share of funding for Objective 1 and convergence programmes respectively there were in each year since 1999-2000.

Paul Murphy: EU funding is allocated in spending rounds, the most recent three running from 1994 to 2000, from 2001 to 2006 and from 2007 to 2013.
	For the 1999-2000 and 2000-01 financial years, EU funding was provided within the Barnett formula as these years fell within the previous spending round.
	For the 2001-06 round, where the UK bid for and secured a substantially bigger allocation from Europe, Wales benefited from allocations under a number of European Structural Funds, including Objective 1 which itself covered around 65 per cent. of the population of Wales, in the Valleys, West Wales, and large parts of North Wales.
	There was already a baseline in existing Welsh provision, but on top of this, as recorded in the Wales Office Annual Reports submitted to the House, as well as the Main Estimates, the following total amounts of budget cover were made available to the Welsh Assembly, above the overall Block Grant, as receipts from the EU:
	
		
			million 
			 2001-02 173 
			 2002-03 170 
			 2003-04 186 
			 2004-05 236 
			 2005-06 234 
			 2006-07 336 
		
	
	For the current round, beginning in 2007, the budgeting rules changed so that Department's may use EU receipts to offset expenditure.

WOMEN AND EQUALITY

Departmental Stationery

Bob Spink: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what proportion of office supplies purchased by the Government Equalities Office were recycled products in the latest period for which figures are available.

Maria Eagle: No precise figures are available but the Government Equalities Office selects genuinely green supplies wherever possible. All copier paper, for example, is from recycled sources and all toner cartridges are recycled. GEO contracts with a supplier that has won a number of environmental awards, works to the international standard for environmental management and clearly identifies environmentally preferred products in its catalogue.

Members: Correspondence

Greg Hands: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality when she plans to reply to the letters from the hon. Member for Hammersmith and Fulham of 28 November 2008 and 3 February 2009 on his constituent, Ms Jackie Pemberton.

Maria Eagle: I have written to the hon. Member.

Pensioners: Poverty

Bob Spink: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on levels of poverty amongst women pensioners.

Maria Eagle: holding answer 14 May 2009
	My colleagues and I have not had recent discussions with the Secretary of State on this subject.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Afghanistan

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 13 May 2009,  Official Report, column 839, on Afghanistan, what the remit of the internal evaluation unit is; when that unit was established; and if he will place in the Library a copy of each report produced by that unit.

Douglas Alexander: The Evaluation Office of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) was established in 2006. It is an internal unit conducting independent evaluations of UNDP's global, regional and country programmes, aimed at improving and accounting for programme results.
	The UNDP Evaluation Office recently conducted an evaluation of the UNDP Afghanistan country programme. It will be published on the UNDP Executive Board website
	http://www.undp.org/execbrd/
	in June 2009.

Afghanistan: Reconstruction

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will place in the Library a copy of each evaluation report commissioned by  (a) his Department and  (b) its bilateral donor partners on projects in Afghanistan undertaken by the UN Development Programme to which his Department has contributed funds in the last three years.

Douglas Alexander: All evaluation reports commissioned by the Department for International Development (DFID) are published and a copy is placed in the House of Commons Library at the time of publication.
	Evaluations published by bilateral donor partners on projects in Afghanistan undertaken by the UN Development Programme normally appear on the website of the relevant organisation.

Developing Countries: Private Sector

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which businesses expressed an interest in involvement in the Business Call to Action; which expressions of interest his Department did not proceed with; what the reasons for not proceeding were in each case; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: A total of 66 companies have signed up to the Business Call to Action (BCtA) since July 2007. A regularly updated list of signatory companies can be found at:
	www.business-call-to-action.com.
	The Department for International Development (DFID) is unable to disclose the specific reasons for not proceeding in cases on the grounds of commercial sensitivity.

International Assistance: Standards

Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his most recent assessment is of the effectiveness of measures to ensure transparency in respect of the provision of international aid.

Ivan Lewis: The OECD Development Assistance Committee produces statistics about past aid flows. However, research shows developing country governments and citizens face challenges in finding out how much aid their country receives. The Department for International Development (DFID) leads the International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI) which was launched in September 2008. It brings together donors, developing country governments and Non-Governmental Organisations to agree common information standards so they can share more and better information about aid. Agreement on essential elements of the standards is expected by the end of 2009. Further information on IATI is available on the DFID website:
	www.dfid.gov.uk

North Africa: Overseas Aid

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much aid his Department provided for  (a) Morocco,  (b) Algeria,  (c) Tunisia,  (d) Libya,  (e) Egypt and  (f) Mauritania in 2008-09.

Michael Foster: Details of the Department for International Development's (DFID) 2008-09 expenditure are not yet available but will be published in our 2009 Annual Report in July. The most recently available data can be found in Statistics on International Development 2008, which was published in November 2008 see:
	http://www.dfid.gov.uk/pubs/files/sid2008/contents.asp

Pakistan: Armed Conflict

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the humanitarian situation in  (a) the Swat Valley and  (b) north west Pakistan; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: Access to the Swat Valley is severely constrained for relief agencies; however, information from partners, including the United Nations, suggests that the humanitarian situation in the Swat Valley is very poor. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) states that the region's principal hospital in Mingora has been cut off from water and electricity supply systems. Across the Swat Valley, frequent curfews make it difficult for people to reach basic services.
	Outside conflict areas there are 26 camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in North West Frontier Province (NWFP), hosting approximately 275,000 people. The humanitarian situation in these camps is stable. Outside the camps and across Pakistan there are estimated to be just over 2 million registered IDPs living with friends or family or in private rented accommodation.

Pakistan: Internally Displaced Persons

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate his Department has made of the number of individuals currently displaced in north west Pakistan; and in which locations displaced persons have assembled.

Douglas Alexander: The United Nations has estimated that, as of 25 May 2009, approximately 2.38 million people have been registered as internally displaced persons (IDPs) from the conflict affected areas of North West Frontier Province and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. Of these, approximately 275,000 are being accommodated in 26 IDP camps in Charsadda, Lower Dir, Malakand, Mardan, Nowshera, Peshawar and Swabi. The rest are staying with friends or family or are renting private accommodation across Pakistan.

Pakistan: Overseas Aid

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State 
	(1)  for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the ability of  (a) his Department,  (b) international agencies and  (c) non-governmental organisations to provide aid to refugees in north west Pakistan in the current security situation;
	(2)  what humanitarian assistance his Department is providing to civilians in  (a) the Swat Valley and  (b) north west Pakistan.

Douglas Alexander: Where internally displaced people (IDPs) have moved away from the areas where military action is ongoing, humanitarian aid agencies, including the United Nations (UN), the International Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (ICRC), and non-governmental organisations, are providing humanitarian aid. This includes those residing in 26 IDP camps and those registered IDPs who are staying with family or friends or are in rented accommodation.
	However, insecurity continues to limit the ability of relief agencies to assess the needs and deliver aid to those who are cut off by the ongoing fighting. Mingora, the principal town of the Swat Valley, remains inaccessible. In other parts of Swat, Buner, Malakand and Lower Dir districts where military operations continue, agencies have been able to deliver only limited assistance.
	The Department for International Development (DFID) has committed 22 million provide relief to those displaced by conflict in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and North West Frontier Province (NWFP), including from the Swat District of NWFP.

Palestinians: Overseas Aid

Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what steps the Government has taken to seek to ensure that the Israeli government does not prevent food from entering Gaza;
	(2)  if he will make representations to the Israeli government to allow humanitarian supplies into Gaza;
	(3)  what discussions he has had with his Israeli counterpart on restrictions on the supply of humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza.

Michael Foster: The humanitarian situation in Gaza is of serious concern. The UK Government have consistently lobbied for unrestricted access for food and other humanitarian supplies into Gaza.
	During his visit to Gaza in March, the Secretary of State met with Isaac Herzog, the Israeli Minister responsible for co-ordinating aid to Gaza, and pressed for improved access and a relaxation of restrictions on the type of goods allowed across the border. The Prime Minister, the Foreign Secretary and officials from both the Department for International Development and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office have also had meetings with the Israeli government on the need to reduce the constraints on goods entering Gaza.

Sri Lanka: EU External Trade

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on withdrawing Generalised System of Preferences GSP+ benefits from Sri Lanka.

Michael Foster: Along with other member states the United Kingdom continues to support the EU Commission's decision to initiate an investigation into Sri Lanka's effective implementation of the GSP+ conventions. We continue to press the Commission for a speedy conclusion.

Sri Lanka: Overseas Aid

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support his Department is providing to the Mercy Mission to Vanni.

Caroline Flint: I have been asked to reply.
	We are aware of reports of a humanitarian relief convoy seeking to take humanitarian supplies to northern Sri Lanka by ship, organised by the British Tamil community and supported by many MPs. It is a clear demonstration of the public's concern for the civilians in Sri Lanka. The organisers must ensure that the appropriate approvals from the relevant UK and Sri Lankan authorities are in place. We have consistently advised those who wish to provide assistance to channel their efforts through aid agencies already on the ground.
	On 17 May 2009, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced a further 5 million of humanitarian assistance for the civilians affected by the conflict in Sri Lanka. This takes the total to 12.5 million since October 2008.

United Nations: Females

Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make it his policy to support the establishment of a new UN agency for women in his Department's forthcoming White Paper.

Gareth Thomas: The UK Government's policy is to support the establishment of a new UN agency for women. We are pushing for a fast and successful conclusion to the negotiations for its creation.
	The UK's forthcoming White Paper on International Development will cover the Government's plan for working with UN agencies.

JUSTICE

Asylum

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many paper cases are awaiting decision by the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal.

Bridget Prentice: At 18 May 2009, there were 31,441 paper cases with the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal (AIT) awaiting consideration by an immigration judge. These are out of country cases arising from entry clearance officer (ECO), family visit visa (FVV) and managed migration (MM) applications. Of the 31,441 cases, 9,021 are waiting the receipt of the documents from UKBA (the bundle) and, therefore, cannot be progressed any further. 10,233 cases have received notification of hearing and are, therefore, moving through the system. This leaves 12,187 out of country cases still waiting to be listed for hearing. AIT have a clear plan in place to progress these cases through the system.

Courts: Canterbury

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many cases have been awaiting trial in Canterbury Crown Court for  (a) more than six months and  (b) more than 12 months;
	(2)  what steps his Department is taking to reduce the length of time taken to bring cases to trial in  (a) crown courts and  (b) Canterbury Crown Court.

Maria Eagle: The number of cases awaiting trial in Canterbury Crown court as at 30 April 2009 were:
	 (a) 66 more than six and less than 12 months; and
	 (b) 18 more than 12 months; out of a total of 349 outstanding trial cases.
	Canterbury Crown court have introduced a number of initiatives to reduce the length of time a case can take to come to trial but there are other factors which influence the speed at which cases commence such as preparedness of the prosecuting agency or defence, and the availability of witnesses.
	Last year, HMCS timeliness improved significantly from 77.6 per cent. of cases dealt with within target in 2007-08 to 79.7 per cent. of cases dealt with within target in 2008-09. Nationally HMCS are committed to further improving Crown court timeliness and are working closely with the senior judiciary to improve case management, improve timeliness and reduce the number of hearings. There have already been local and national improvements. Additionally more sitting days have been allocated for 2009-10 than in previous years.

Departmental Catering

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether food and drink on sale to staff of  (a) his Department and  (b) each of its agencies at official premises is subsidised from public funds.

Jack Straw: Food and drink is on sale within the Ministry for Justice HQ estate. The subsidised provision of food and drink to the Ministry of Justice HQ Estate for financial year 2008-09 was set at 200,000. Although this provision has ceased since the start of the new financial year 2009-10 and the contract will operate as nil subsidy thereafter.
	Her Majesty's Courts Service has food and drink on sale for staff. Their contracts are run on a commercial basis, with a subsidy built in to cover contractor overheads and salaries.
	Her Majesty's Prison Service and National Offender Management Service (custodial and non-custodial) have canteen facilities provided through centrally let contracts which are not subsidised. Records of canteen facilities provided for staff in prisons are not held centrally and to find these details would involve contacting each prison location, which would incur disproportionate cost.
	Tribunals Service and the Office for Criminal Justice Reform have subsidised provision via DWP (Department of Work and Pensions) and Home Office contracts respectively.

Departmental Official Cars

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 27 January 2009,  Official Report, columns 379-80W, on official cars, how many of the cars  (a) owned and  (b) leased by (i) his Department and (ii) its agencies are over six years old.

David Hanson: The following table outlines the number of owned and leased cars used by the Ministry of Justice that are over six years old, by engine capacity.
	
		
			   Cars 
			   1000 to 1400cc  1401 to 1700cc  1701 to 2200cc 
			  Vehicles owned
			 National Offender Management Service 2 2 83 
			 Ministry of Justice 14 2 12 
			 
			  Vehicles leased
			 National Offender Management Service 0 0 0 
			 Ministry of Justice 0 0 2 
		
	
	Life expectancy for owned cars, particularly in the Prison Service, can be extended beyond average fleet age if recorded mileages are low and the condition of the vehicle has been maintained. The decision to retain any vehicle will be taken after a review of whole-life costs and operational requirements.
	Modern diesel powered vehicles with extended service intervals are capable of recording high mileages, reliably and cost effectively. Consideration of the environmental impact from emissions associated with these older vehicles will also be taken into account.

Departmental Sick Leave

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many staff in  (a) his Department and its predecessor and  (b) its agencies took long-term sick leave in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many days sick leave  (a) in total and  (b) on average employees of (i) his Department and its predecessor and (ii) its agencies took in each year since 1997.

Jack Straw: The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) was created on 9 May 2007. The MOJand its predecessors, the Lord Chancellor's Department and the Department for Constitutional Affairsdoes centrally monitor long term sickness absence but does so by the number of days' absence taken, not by the number of individual staff on long-term sick leave. To obtain this information would incur disproportionate cost.
	Information relating to the total and average sick leave for the MOJ and its predecessors, the Department for Constitutional Affairs and Her Majesty's Prison Service, is shown in the tables. Approximately 1,530 staff transferred from the Home Office to the MOJ on 1 November 2008. However, it would be possible to obtain sick absence figures from the Home Office for these staff only at disproportionate cost. Absence figures for the 51,239 Prison Service staff migrated into MOJ are shown as follows.
	Figures for the Lord Chancellor's Department (prior to 2003-04) and Her Majesty's Prison Service (prior to 1999-2000) are not readily available and to obtain this information would incur disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Department for Constitutional Affairs sickness absence rates 
			   Working days lost  Average staff in post  Working days lost per person 
			 2003-04 128,170 12,154 10.5 
			 2004-05 124,390 12,643 9.8 
			 2005-06 174,096 16,702 10.4 
			 2006-07 276,166 25,395 10.9 
		
	
	
		
			  Prison Service sickness absence rates 
			   Working days lost  Average staff in post  Working days lost per person 
			 1999-2000 542,922 43,111 12.6 
			 2000-01 592,173 43,878 13.5 
			 2001-02 614,150 44,155 13.9 
			 2002-03 668,337 45,419 14.7 
			 2003-04 328,623 47,224 13.3 
			 2004-05 616,367 48,607 12.7 
			 2005-06 578,211 48,419 12.2 
			 2006-07 573,071 49,216 11.6 
		
	
	 Ministry of Justice sick absence rates
	The figure includes MOJ Headquarters, Her Majesty's Court Service, the Office of the Public Guardian, the Tribunals Service and Scotland and Wales Offices.
	
		
			   Working days lost  Average staff in post  Working days lost per person 
			 2007-08(1) 211,807 25,722 8.2 
			 2008-09(2) 184,027 24,099 7.6 
			 (1) Includes all MOJ employees on Home Office systems (MOJ and NOMS HQ) (2) Statistics still to be validated and includes staff that migrated across from HO systems  Source: MOJ Cabinet Office return minus Land Registry and NOMS Agency 
		
	
	
		
			  NOMS agency sick absence rates 
			   Working days lost  Average staff in post  Working days lost per person 
			 2007-08(1) 68,590 58,540 11.6 
			 2008-09(2) 542,821 50,135 10.8 
			 (1) Excludes staff on Home Office systems (2) Statistic still to be validated and includes staff that migrated across from HO systems  Source: NOMS Agency Cabinet Office return

Departmental Stationery

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what proportion of office supplies purchased by his Department were recycled products in the latest period for which figures are available.

David Hanson: The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) does not record specific information on recycled products although those from sustainable sources are highlighted in our catalogue of office supplies. The catalogue is made available to all parts of the Department and staff are encouraged to order products from sustainable sources.
	MOJ Procurement currently have 1,273 core products on catalogue of which, 18 per cent. are sustainable. This 18 per cent., however, equates to 26 per cent. of the contract value.

Fixed Penalties

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many of each category of fixed penalty notices were  (a) issued and  (b) paid in each police force area in each month since their introduction.

Alan Campbell: I have been asked to reply.
	Information on the outcomes (endorsable and non-endorsable) of fixed penalty notices for motoring offences from 2004 to 2007 (latest available) are provided in tables 1 to 4 placed in the House Library.
	Available annual information on motoring fixed penalty notices for previous years can be found in the Home Office Statistical publication 'Offences relating to motor vehicles, England and Wales, Supplementary tables', tables 20(a) to 20(c). Copies of the publication are available in the Libraries of the House.
	Information held by the Ministry of Justice on the number of penalty notices for disorder (PND) issued, paid, unpaid and registered as fines by persons aged 16 and over by offence and police force area in England and Wales for the years 2004 to 2007 (latest available) can be viewed in tables 5 to 8 placed in the House Library. The PND scheme was implemented in all 43 forces in 2004.
	PND data for 2008 will be available in the autumn of 2009.

Ford Prison

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps have been taken by his Department following the recent report by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons on HM Prison Ford.

Jack Straw: As with all HMCIP reports an action plan responding to each of the recommendations in the report will be submitted to Ministers and the chief inspector within the next three months.
	The new governor is focusing on resettlement and security, including measures to reduce the smuggling of alcohol, and the Director of Offender Management (DOM) has approved a schedule of maintenance designed to address the decor and physical environment with plans for a new kitchen. Significant improvements have already been made to improve disability access.

Penalty Notices: Shoplifting

Ann Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  with reference to the answer of 17 November 2008,  Official Report, column 22W, on penalty notices: shoplifting, what the outcome was of the study of criminal histories and re-offending rates of penalty notice for disorder recipients for shop theft;
	(2)  what his latest assessment is of the effectiveness of the penalty notice for disorder scheme for shop theft.

Jack Straw: A study of criminal histories and reoffending rates of PND recipients is under way and we aim to publish the findings in late 2009. Provisional, unpublished results from this study show that of a sample of 13,800 juvenile and adult offenders given a penalty notice for disorder (PND) for theft during 2005, 33 per cent. reoffended within 12 months of receiving the PND. This study used data recorded on the police national computer and counted as a reoffence any offence committed during the 12-month period that resulted in a conviction or caution.
	This estimate cannot be directly compared to the published reoffending rates for three reasons:
	it includes offences leading to a caution as well as a conviction whilst the published National Statistics on adult reoffending counts only convictions;
	it covers offenders who in general have very different offending backgrounds to those in the published cohorts; which cover offenders discharged from prison and offenders commencing a court order under probation supervision;
	it covers both juvenile and adult offenders together, whereas reoffending data is published separately for adults and juveniles.
	We are currently reviewing the use of PNDs for retail theft and will inform the House of our conclusions shortly.

Prison Accommodation

Rudi Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prison places have been created in England and Wales in each year since 1990.

David Hanson: The table provides approximate information on the number of new prison places provided in England and Wales in each financial year from 1997-98 to 2008-09. In addition to the new places provided in the table, approximately 4,000 places have been provided by other means such as cell reclaims or doubling up.
	Approximately 14,000 new prison places were provided between 1990-91 and 1996-97.
	
		
			  Financial year  New prison places provided( 1) 
			 1997-98 4,900 
			 1998-99 1,200 
			 1999-2000 1,600 
			 2000-01 600 
			 2001-02 900 
			 2002-03 1,800 
			 2003-04 1,300 
			 2004-05 2,600 
			 2005-06 1,100 
			 2006-07 300 
			 2007-08 2,300 
			 2008-09 2,100 
			 (1) To nearest 100

Prison Accommodation

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  which  (a) active and  (b) inactive military sites (i) he and (ii) representatives of his Department have (A) visited and (B) inspected in order to assess their suitability for use as prisons since 2005; and if he will publish a report of the findings of each visit or inspection;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the conversion of RAF Coltishall into a category C prison, excluding the cost of the original acquisition of the land and site; what area the site covers; and how many places the prison is planned to provide.

Jack Straw: In 2006, the Ministry of Defence provided a list of sites that were under disposal or planned for disposal shortly. Officials in the National Offender Management Service then undertook desktop exercises to refine the lists, and a number of sites were visited and assessed in further detail. A proposal to convert Connaught Barracks in Dover to a prison was considered, but it was decided not to proceed.
	Following December 2007 Lord Carter's report, Securing the future: Proposals for the efficient and sustainable use of custody in England and Wales, Ministers agreed to the acquisition of the former RAF Coltishall site in Norfolk and conversion to a prison.
	The prison development at the former RAF Coltishall occupies around 31 acres of the 650 acre site and, once complete, will provide 523 places. The cost is estimated at around 68 million.

Prison Sentences

David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average length of time in custody served by offenders sentenced to two months' imprisonment was in the latest year for which figures are available.

David Hanson: The average time served in days, including time on remand, for all prisoners sentenced to two months and discharged in 2007 was 46 days.
	This figure has been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Prison Service: Political Activities

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what information his Department holds on the political affiliation of  (a) senior members of staff and  (b) governors in HM Prison Service.

Jack Straw: MOJ does not collect information about the political affiliation of members of staff. Civil servants are required to act in accordance with the Civil Service Code which requires them to act with integrity, honesty, objectivity and impartiality, including political impartiality. The rules on civil servants' involvement in political activities are set out in the Civil Service Management Code.

Prisons

Jon Cruddas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice which unit in his Department is responsible for policy on identifying potential sites for new prisons.

Jack Straw: The Directorate of Estate Capacity within the National Offender Management Service is responsible for policy on identifying potential sites for new prisons.

Prisons: Barking and Dagenham

Jon Cruddas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the administrative costs to his Department of assessing contractors' applications to operate a prison at Beam Park West.

Jack Straw: The administrative costs to manage the whole procurement process for Beam Park West are included in the overall budget estimate for the new prisons but have not been broken out specifically into the evaluation element as this is dependent on the procurement route used. More detail will be available on this once the procurement strategy has been published in the summer.

Prisons: Barking and Dagenham

Jon Cruddas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many vehicles he estimates will require access to and egress from Beam Park West site during the construction of a prison there.

Jack Straw: No assessment has yet been made. However, as required by the local planning authority, an environmental impact assessment will be undertaken and submitted as part of the planning application.

Prisons: Barking and Dagenham

Jon Cruddas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  pursuant to the statement of 27 April 2009,  Official Report, columns 569-71, on prisons and probation (1) how many visits members of his Department have made to the Beam Park West site in connection with the construction of a prison; and when the first such visit took place;
	(2)  when a list of possible locations for a new prison was first drawn up by his Department; how many options considered were in Essex; and on what date the Beam Park West site was added to the list.

Jack Straw: As part of the Capacity Programme, a number of site searches have been carried out to meet a range of requirements.
	Following the publication of Lord Carter's report 'Securing the future: Proposals for the efficient and sustainable use of custody in England and Wales' in December 2007, a list of potential sites for 2,500 place Titan prisons was drawn up. This included 12 sites in Essex, but not Beam Park West.
	The Beam Park West site was identified during an exercise to identify potential sites for a prison in London. This was undertaken jointly with the London Development Agency in autumn 2008.
	As announced on 27 April, instead of building three 2,500 place prisons, we will now build five 1,500 place prisons. The Beam Park West site is one of two sites announced on 27 April for these new prisons.
	Following the identification of the Beam Park West site as potentially suitable for prison development, National Offender Management Service officials have visited the site on two occasions, 20 January and 5 February this year.

Prisons: Construction

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  for what reasons the greenfield site at Scarisbrick was under consideration as a potential location for a titan prison; for what reasons he decided not to build a prison on that site; if he will make it his policy to inform local residents when sites are being considered as potential locations for prison developments; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what his Department's procedures are for informing local residents when sites in their locality are being considered as potential locations for new prisons; what steps his Department takes to consult local communities on its plans for the location of new prisons; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: As I announced on 27 April 2009,  Official Report, columns 569-80, we will not be proceeding with the 2,500 place Titan prisons, but we will be building 1,500 place prisons instead.
	The site at Scarisbrick was one of a number of sites brought to the attention of the National Offender Management Service as part of the site search exercise for Titan prisons to hold 2,500 prisoners. It was assessed, but not considered suitable for development as a Titan. There are, therefore, no plans for a prison at Scarisbrick.
	For any new prison, before the submission of planning application for the site of a new prison, officials hold a public exhibition setting out the proposals.

Prisons: Explosives

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many  (a) suspected and  (b) viable explosive devices or components have been found in each prison in England and Wales in each of the last 12 years for which figures are available.

Jack Straw: The following tables show a breakdown of  (a) suspected and  (b) viable explosive devices or components found in each prison in England and Wales in each of the last 12 years up to the end of March 2009.
	Of these incidents 76 per cent. were suspected devices. This category covers false alarms including such incidents as unattended bags or suspicious packages sent via the postal system, or bomb hoax calls.
	Viable explosive devices mainly relate to prisoners making small incendiary devices by packing readily available flammable material such as match heads into an improvised container (17 per cent. of incidents in table); 6 per cent. of incidents relate to unexploded wartime ordnance discovered during excavation work; and, 1 per cent. relates to fireworks being found in the grounds of establishments.
	There were no serious injuries as a result of any of these incidents and minor injuries were recorded in just three cases. Apart from unexploded wartime ordnance finds, none of the viable devices discovered were likely to have had the capability to cause life threatening injuries and none involved the use of sophisticated improvised explosives or commercial or military explosives.
	
		
			  Bomb related incidents from 1997-98 to 2008-09 
			  1997-98 
			  Establishment  Suspected  Viable explosive devices or components 
			 Ashwell  1 
			 Bedford 1  
			 Birmingham 3  
			 Bristol 1  
			 Brixton 1  
			 Cardiff 2 1 
			 Doncaster 1  
			 Frankland 1  
			 Garth 1  
			 Glenn Parva 1  
			 Highdown 1  
			 Holloway 1  
			 Hull 1  
			 Lewes 1  
			 Manchester 2  
			 Moorland 1  
			 Pentonville 1  
			 Reading 1  
			 Shrewsbury 1  
			 Stoke Heath 1  
			 The Verne 1  
			 Wakefield 1  
			 Weare 1  
			 Wellingborough 1  
			 Whitemoor 1  
			 Total 28 2 
		
	
	
		
			  1998-99 
			  Establishment  Suspected  Viable explosive devices or components 
			 Altcourse 1  
			 Birmingham 1  
			 Brinsford 1  
			 Brixton 1  
			 Feltham 1  
			 Feltham 1  
			 Glen Parva  1 
			 Highdown 2 2 
			 Leicester  1 
			 Lindholme 1  
			 Liverpool  1 
			 Long Lartin 1  
			 Low Newton 1  
			 Nottingham 1  
			 Sudbury 1  
			 Whitemoor 2  
			 Winchester 1  
			 Wormwood scrubs  1 
			 Total 16 6 
		
	
	
		
			  1999-2000 
			  Establishment  Suspected  Viable explosive devices or components 
			 Belmarsh 2  
			 Bristol 1  
			 Brockhill 1  
			 Bullingdon 1  
			 Canterbury 1  
			 Chelmsford 1  
			 Feltham 1  
			 Ford  2 
			 Full Sutton  1 
			 Garth  1 
			 Highdown 1  
			 Hindley 1  
			 Holloway 3  
			 Holme House 1  
			 Huntercombe 1  
			 Lincoln  2 
			 Littlehey 1  
			 Maidstone 1  
			 Manchester 5 2 
			 Northallerton 2 2 
			 Onley 1  
			 Parc 2  
			 Parkhurst 1  
			 Standford  2 
			 Swaleside 1  
			 Whitemoor 1  
			 Woodhill 1  
			 Total 31 12 
		
	
	
		
			  2000-01 
			  Establishment  Suspected  Viable explosive devices or components 
			 Blakenhurst 1 1 
			 Brixton 1  
			 Camp Hill 1  
			 Channings Wood  1 
			 Chelmsford 1  
			 Doncaster 1  
			 Downview 1  
			 Durham 1  
			 Forrest Bank 1  
			 Full Sutton 1 1 
			 Garth 2  
			 Haverigg 1  
			 Highpoint 1  
			 Hindley 1  
			 Lincoln 1  
			 Long Lartin 1  
			 Maidstone 1  
			 Manchester 1  
			 North Sea Camp  1 
			 Parc  1 
			 Rochester  1 
			 Send 1  
			 Swinfen Hall 1  
			 Verne  2 
			 Wakefield 1  
			 Wolds  1 
			 Woodhill 2  
			 Wormwood Scrubs 1  
			 Total 24 9 
		
	
	
		
			  2001-02 
			  Establishment  Suspected  Viable explosive devices or components 
			 Bedford 1  
			 Brockhill 2  
			 Bullingdon 1  
			 Canterbury 1  
			 Cardiff 1  
			 Durham 1  
			 Eastwood Park 1  
			 Elmley 1  
			 Gloucester 2  
			 Haverigg 1  
			 Highpoint 1  
			 Holloway 1  
			 Leeds 1  
			 Manchester  1 
			 Moorland 2  
			 Northallerton 1  
			 Parc 1  
			 Preston 1  
			 Shepton Mallet 1  
			 Shrewsbury 1  
			 Swansea  1 
			 Woodhill 1  
			 Wormwood Scrubs 3 1 
			 Total 26 3 
		
	
	
		
			  2002-03 
			  Establishment  Suspected  Viable explosive devices or components 
			 Ashwell  3 
			 Birmingham 1  
			 Doncaster 1  
			 Eastwood Park 1  
			 Featherstone 1  
			 Glen Parva 3  
			 Hatfield (Moorland Open) 1  
			 Highpoint 1  
			 Holme House 1  
			 Leeds 1  
			 Leicester 1 1 
			 Lewes 1  
			 Lincoln 1  
			 Lindholme 1  
			 Northallerton 1  
			 Parc 1  
			 Preston 1  
			 Send 1  
			 Standford Hill  2 
			 Wayland 1  
			 Wolds  2 
			 Woodhill 1  
			 Wormwood Scrubs  1 
			 Total 21 9 
		
	
	
		
			  2003-04 
			  Establishment  Suspected  Viable explosive devices or components 
			 Ashwell  1 
			 Birmingham 1  
			 Bristol 1  
			 Dartmoor 1  
			 Dover 1  
			 Downview 1  
			 Hatfield (Moorland Open) 1  
			 Lancaster  3 
			 Leicester 1  
			 Lewes 1  
			 Lincoln 1  
			 Lindholme  2 
			 Manchester 1 1 
			 Stafford 1 1 
			 Wakefield 1  
			 Wandsworth 1  
			 Winchester 1  
			 Wormwood Scrubs 2  
			 Total 16 8 
		
	
	
		
			  2004-05 
			  Establishment  Suspected  Viable explosive devices or components 
			 Belmarsh 1  
			 Blundeston  1 
			 Bristol 1  
			 Bullingdon 1  
			 Bullwood Hall 1  
			 Eastwood Park 1  
			 Feltham 1  
			 Guys Marsh 1  
			 Holloway 1  
			 Hull 1  
			 Leeds   
			 Leicester 1  
			 Lincoln 1  
			 Lindholme  1 
			 Lowdham Grange 1  
			 Manchester  1 
			 North Sea Camp  1 
			 Norwich 1  
			 Parc 3 1 
			 Pentonville 1  
			 Portland 1  
			 Wayland 1  
			 Wolds  1 
			 Total 19 6 
		
	
	
		
			  2005-06 
			  Establishment  Suspected  Viable explosive devices or components 
			 Aylesbury 1  
			 Belmarsh 2  
			 Bristol 2  
			 Bullingdon  1 
			 Elmley  1 
			 Full Sutton  1 
			 Hindley 1  
			 Hollesley Bay 1  
			 Holme House 1  
			 Hull 1  
			 Manchester 2 2 
			 Moorland 1  
			 Warren Hill 1  
			 Whitemoor  1 
			 Total 13 6 
		
	
	
		
			  2006-07 
			  Establishment  Suspected  Viable explosive devices or components 
			 Albany 1  
			 Aylesbury 1  
			 Bristol 1  
			 Canterbury 1  
			 Castington 1  
			 Elmley  2 
			 Garth  2 
			 Glen Parva 2  
			 Haverigg  2 
			 Highpoint 1  
			 Hull 1  
			 Lindholme 1  
			 New Hall 2  
			 Peterborough 2  
			 Send 1  
			 Standford Hill  1 
			 Stoke Heath  2 
			 Swinfen Hall 1  
			 Thorn Cross 1  
			 Wakefield 1  
			 Wormwood Scrubs 1  
			 Total 19 9 
		
	
	
		
			  2007-08 
			  Establishment  Suspected  Viable explosive devices or components 
			 Belmarsh 1  
			 Canterbury 1  
			 Edmunds hill 1  
			 Feltham 1  
			 Frankland 2  
			 Full Sutton 3  
			 Gartree 1  
			 Leeds 1  
			 Lewes 1  
			 Long Lartin 1  
			 Norwich  1 
			 Parc 1  
			 Risley 1  
			 Rye Hill 1  
			 Stoke Heath  1 
			 Swaleside  1 
			 Swinfen hall 1  
			 Thorn cross 1  
			 Wakefield 2  
			 Whitemoor  1 
			 Total 20 4 
		
	
	
		
			  2008-09 
			  Establishment  Suspected  Viable explosive devices or components 
			 Belmarsh 1  
			 Bristol 1  
			 Brixton 1  
			 Chelmsford 1  
			 Elmley  1 
			 Full Sutton 1  
			 Garth  1 
			 Haverigg  1 
			 Leicester 1  
			 Lindholme 1  
			 Long Lartin 2 1 
			 Manchester 2 1 
			 Moorland 1  
			 Parc  1 
			 Pentonville 1  
			 Standford Hill 1  
			 The Mount 1  
			 Wellingborough 1  
			 Whitemoor 1  
			 Woodhill 2  
			 Wormwood Scrubs 2  
			 Total 21 6 
			 These figures have been drawn from administrative data systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system.

Probation Boards

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what percentage of probation board members are black and minority ethnic;
	(2)  what remuneration the  (a) Chair and  (b) members of probation board and trusts receive.

David Hanson: There are 370 board members in the 42 probation boards/trusts in England and Wales, of whom 11.35 per cent. are from a BME background.
	The remuneration for probation board/trust chairs is largely dependent on the population band of the area they cover, with probation/trust chairs being paid between 15,400 and 27,500 and committing up to two days a week. Board/trust members are paid an hourly rate of 15.40 with a commitment of up to five days a month.
	The following table lists the current salaries of chairs of all probation areas/trusts for England and Wales.
	
		
			  Probation areas  Salary () 
			 London 27,500 
			 Merseyside, Greater Manchester, West Midlands, West Yorkshire 22,000 
			 Avon and Somerset, Cheshire, Devon and Cornwall, Essex, Hampshire, Humberside, Kent, Lancashire, Northumbria, Nottinghamshire, South Wales, South Yorkshire, Sussex and Thames Valley 17,600 
			 Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, County Durham, Cumbria, Derbyshire, Dorset, Dyfed and Powys, Gloucestershire, Hertfordshire, Leicestershire and Rutland, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, North Wales, North Yorkshire, Northamptonshire, Staffordshire, Suffolk, Surrey, Warwickshire, West Mercia and Wiltshire 15,400

Sentencing

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many and what proportion of all prison sentences handed down in each year since 1997 were for six months or less.

David Hanson: The available information is shown in the table.
	These figures can also be found on table 2.3 of the 2007 annual sentencing statistics bulletin published by the Ministry of Justice in 2008 and available on:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/sentencingannual.htm
	
		
			  Number of persons issued with immediate  custody of six months or less ,  1 997  to  2007 
			   1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 Immediate custody of six months or less 57,271 63,741 69,262 70,099 69,914 71,961 70,252 68,199 63,856 59,134 57,536 
			 All immediate custody 93,841 100,566 105,323 106,187 106,273 111,607 107,670 106,322 101,236 96,017 95,206 
			 Proportion (of all immediate custody) (percentage) 61.0 63.4 65.8 66.0 65.8 64.5 65.2 64.1 63.1 61.6 60.4 
			  Notes: 1. The statistics given are on a principal offence basis. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. 2. These figures have been drawn from administrative data systems. 3. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system.  Source: OMS Analytical Services, Ministry of Justice

Shoplifting: Convictions

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many convictions there were for shoplifting in  (a) 2007 and  (b) 2008.

Maria Eagle: Data held by the Ministry of Justice show that there were 62,565 defendants found guilty at all courts for 'stealing from shops and stalls' (shoplifting) under the Theft Act 1968 sec. 1, in England and Wales 2007.
	These data are on the principal offence basis. The figure given on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offence for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences, the offence selected is the one for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.
	Court proceedings data for 2008 will be available in the autumn of 2009.

Shoplifting: Prosecutions

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many successful prosecutions were brought for failure to pay fixed penalty notices for shoplifting in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: Non-payment of a penalty notice for disorder (PND) does not of itself result in prosecution for failing to pay. Recipients of PNDs may either pay the penalty or opt for a court hearing, when they may be prosecuted for the original offence. If they do neither, a fine of one and a half times the amount of the penalty is registered against them, this is enforceable in the normal way for fines. Of the 45,146 penalty notices for disorder issued for shop theft in 2007, the latest year for which figures are available, 172 chose to have their case heard by a court and 24,344 fines were registered. Currently it is not possible to provide separate enforcement rates for fines arising from unpaid PNDs.

Shoplifting: Reoffenders

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he plans to issue amended guidelines to reduce reoffending by those convicted of shop theft.

Jack Straw: The Government issue operational guidance on the issuing of penalty notices for disorder (PNDs) to police forces under section 6 of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001. This guidance sets out the criteria which should be considered by police officers before issuing PNDs.
	Following representations from the hon. Lady and from retail organisations, the guidance covering shoplifting is being strengthened so as to make clear that no offender should receive more than one PND. We hope that a tougher response to shop theft will help reduce reoffending. The new guidance will be issued shortly.
	We are also reviewing the use of PNDs for theft and will report our conclusions to the House soon.

Young Offenders: Reoffenders

Iain Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of re-offending by young people between the ages of 10 and 17 years in the latest year for which information is available.

David Hanson: The level of reoffending by young people aged 10 to 17-years-old is at its lowest since records for the frequency of reoffending began in 2000, with the juvenile reoffending rate down by almost a quarter between 2000 and 2007. This success reflects the Government's investment in the youth justice system and the significant reforms we have implemented since 1997. We do not make an estimate of the overall cost to the public purse of young people's reoffending.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Calor Gas: Canvey Island

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions the Health and Safety Executive has had with Calor on  (a) works and  (b) levels of activity at the Calor Gas Canvey site in the last 12 months.

Jonathan R Shaw: Over the last 12 months HSE has had regular engagement with Calor Gas Ltd's national and site-based managers regarding safety at the Canvey Island site as part of its ongoing intervention strategy for Calor Gas Ltd. The range of topics discussed included Calor Gas's:
	Development of process safety performance indicators;
	Maintenance of plant integrity, in particular plant design and the examination and testing of safety critical plant;
	Management systems for dealing with plant, process and organisational change; and
	Assessment of risks to people in occupied buildings.
	HSE has also had a number of detailed discussions with Calor Gas's managers and staff as part of its investigation into the release of liquefied propane gas (LPG) at the site on 27 October 2008, and in relation to the service of, and Calor Gas's subsequent compliance with, a prohibition notice.

Departmental Contracts for Services

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which services his Department has outsourced in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Department for Work and Pensions has outsourced the following services in the last five years:
	
		
			  Year outsourced  Service outsourced  Agency 
			 2009 Contact centre overflow services Pension, Disability and Carers Service 
			 2009 Contact centre overflow services Jobcentre Plus

Departmental Data Protection

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what property containing personal information on members of the public has been  (a) lost and  (b) stolen from his Department in each of the last 10 years.

Jonathan R Shaw: Except in exceptional cases, when it is in the public interest, it has been the policy of successive Governments not to comment on breaches of security.
	The Department takes its responsibilities to protect personal data extremely seriously. Where breaches of security involve personal data, the Department will, in appropriate cases, alert individuals and provide them with support and advice, and bring the matter to the attention of the Information Commissioner.
	The Department will cover information assurance issues in its annual resource accounts, which also include details of significant incidents involving personal data that have been reported to the Information Commissioner.

Departmental Furniture

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department spent on furniture in 2008-09; and how much its agencies spent on furniture in each of the last five years.

Jonathan R Shaw: Information broken down by agency could only be provided at disproportionate cost. The Department's expenditure is provided in the following table.
	
		
			  Financial year  Furniture spend ( million) 
			 2004-05 4 
			 2005-06 8 
			 2006-07 11 
			 2007-08 5 
			 2008-09 4.3

Departmental Land

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects his Department to make its return for 2008 to the National Land Use Database of Previously Developed Land.

Jonathan R Shaw: I do not anticipate DWP reporting data for 2008 from the National Land Use Database of Previously Developed Land.
	DWP does not own any land or property. The Department has outsourced its estate via a private finance initiative (PFI) contract known as PRIME whereby the vast majority of the DWP estate was sold to Land Securities Trillium (now Telereal Trillium).

Departmental Official Hospitality

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department has spent on  (a) conference services and  (b) banqueting services in each of the last five years.

Jonathan R Shaw: The total departmental spend on management conferences is shown in the table. The Department does not have banqueting events.
	All expenditure is made in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on principles set out in Managing Public Money and the Treasury handbook on Regularity and Propriety.
	
		
			
			 2003-04 12,922,099 
			 2004-05 11,432,515 
			 2005-06 11,229,879 
			 2006-07 12,181,384 
			 2007-08 12,030,270 
			  Source: General ledger. 
		
	
	The figures for 2008-09 are not yet available.

Departmental Pay

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies paid in end-of-year performance bonuses to (i) all staff and (ii) senior Civil Service staff in 2008-09; and how many such payments were made.

Jonathan R Shaw: Less than 1 per cent. of the total pay bill is used for non-consolidated performance payments which have to be re-earned each year against pre-determined targets and, as such, do not add to future costs.
	All DWP employees in pay bands below the senior civil service (SCS) are eligible for an annual individual non-consolidated performance payment if they attain a qualifying rating under the annual performance and development system. The amount of payment awarded is differentiated on the basis of an employee's pay band and the performance level achieved and is the same across all business units.
	For the SCS, end of year non-consolidated performance payments are determined on an individual basis by the relevant DWP SCS pay committee.
	Performance awards are payable in July and are attributable to performance in the previous financial year. In the 2008-09 financial year 23.32 million has been paid as follows:
	
		
			  2008-09 
			  Grade  Total paid ( million)  Total number of recipients 
			 Below SCS 21.50 107,518 
			 SCS 1.82 208 
			 Departmental total 23.32 107,726 
		
	
	In response to the current economic conditions, the Government have frozen the size of the overall amount available for performance awards payable to SCS in July 2009.

Departmental Stationery

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department spent on the purchase of  (a) recycled office supplies in the last 12 months and  (b) printer ink cartridges in each of the last five years.

Jonathan R Shaw: The information is as follows:
	 (a) Over the past 12 months (April 2008 to March 2009) the DWP spent approximately 10,402,244.00 on recycled office supplies (i.e. paper, cardboard products, box files, toner and ink cartridges).
	 (b) Over the past five years the DWP spend on printer ink cartridges is estimated to be:
	
		
			  April to March each year   
			 2006-07 5,490,768 
			 2007-08 4,806,367 
			 2008-09 4,926,650 
		
	
	Information for the period April 2004 to March 2006 cannot be determined without disproportionate cost.

Departmental Training

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 23 April 2009,  Official Report, column 845W, on departmental training, how much has been spent on media training for Ministers in his Department necessary in order to carry out their duties effectively.

Tony McNulty: The figures in the table give details of how much had been spent by the Press Office on media training in the last three years. We are unable to break down how much was spent on training for Ministers, senior officials and press officers.
	
		
			
			 2006-07 17,079.00 
			 2007-08 8,328.00 
			 2008-09 6,202.48 
			 Total 31,609.48

Employment

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people resident in  (a) Castle Point constituency,  (b) Essex and  (c) England over 50 years old have returned to work after being made redundant in each of the last five years.

Kevin Brennan: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated May 2009:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many people resident in  (a) Castle Point constituency,  (b) Essex and  (c) England over 50 years old have returned to work after being made redundant in each of the last 5 years. (276613)
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles labour market statistics for local areas from the Annual Population Survey (APS), however redundancy estimates from this source are not available at the level of detail requested.

Employment and Support Allowance

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what back to work support will be offered to new and existing claimants of employment and support allowance who are not part of the progression to work pathfinders.

Tony McNulty: Nationally, employment and support allowance claimants will continue to have access to back to work support through the successful Pathways to Work Programme, including a series of six mandatory work focused interviews with a personal adviser in the first eight months of the claim. From late 2010 we will extend to two years the period during which new claimants are required to engage with us through work focused interviews. This will provide a more comprehensive framework of engagement in which to address the claimant's barriers to work. Claimants in the support group will not be required to attend any work focused interviews, but will be able to volunteer for pathways support.
	Additionally, we anticipate that approximately 6 per cent. of new employment and support allowance claimants will be included in the personalised employment programme pilots which will test a single, integrated, flexible employment programme for jobseeker's allowance claimants, new employment and support allowance claimants and parents with younger children. They will be required to engage in a framework of work focused interviews and work related activity for two years. This is subject to the successful passage of provisions in the Welfare Reform Bill.
	Claimants who are migrated from incapacity benefits to employment and support allowance will be subject to different conditionality requirements, as set out in the response to questions 255137 and 255138.

Employment and Support Allowance

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department expects to save from the introduction of the employment and support allowance in place of incapacity benefit in the first 12 months in which the allowance is available.

Jonathan R Shaw: Employment and support allowance was introduced for new claims in October 2008. It is estimated that by paying employment and support allowance rates to new claimants rather than the relevant incapacity benefit rates, the Department saves 2 million in 2008-09 and spends an extra 33 million in 2009-10. These figures reflect only the changes in rates of benefit and do not take into account the effect of different eligibility criteria in the benefits.
	Although starting rates of benefit are very similar for employment and support allowance and incapacity benefit, under employment and support allowance people get more money much sooner. New customers to employment and support allowance will benefit from higher rates after three months. Under incapacity benefit arrangements the highest amounts are not payable until after a year of incapacity.

Employment Schemes: Lone Parents

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when the 40 back to work credit for lone parents was made available on a national basis; and how many lone parents have received the credit since that date.

Kitty Ussher: holding answer 15 May 2009
	In work credit for lone parents was introduced nationally from 7 April 2008. The total number of lone parents who have taken it up since then, up to the end of March 2009, is 61,610.

Employment: Conferences

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 5 May 2009,  Official Report, column 118W, on employment conferences, how many  (a) Ministers,  (b) civil servants and  (c) others attended the employment summit on 12 January 2009.

Tony McNulty: Over 120 key figures from business, trade unions, academia, workplace providers and representative bodies attended the Employment summit on 12 January, alongside nine Ministers and approximately 40 civil servants. I refer the hon. Member to a full list of attendees that I placed in the Library in answer to PQ No. 249916 which gives full details of those in attendance.
	 Source:
	DWP Communications Directorate.

Housing Benefit

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  which local authorities have requested median rents for local housing allowance for accommodation with six or more bedrooms; and what the median rent for such accommodation was in each case;
	(2)  in how many broad market rental areas median rents for accommodation with  (a) six,  (b) seven,  (c) eight,  (d) nine and  (e) 10 or more bedrooms have been estimated; what those broad market rental areas were; and at what level the median rents for accommodation with six or more bedrooms were in each instance.

Kitty Ussher: Local Housing Allowance rates for larger properties are only provided if a local authority requests them. Since Local Housing Allowance was launched in April 2008, 156 local authorities have requested a rate for accommodation with six or more bedrooms. The Rent Service has provided Local Housing Allowance rates for properties over six bedrooms in 114 Broad Rental Market Areas. From April 2009, all new claims to LHA are capped at the five bedroom rate.
	A full list of monthly Local Housing Allowance rates for properties with five bedrooms or less, together with maps of the Broad Rental Market Areas, are available on the LHA-Direct website at:
	lha-direct.therentservice.gov.uk/Secure/Default.aspx

Incapacity Benefit

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of claims for incapacity benefit and employment and support allowance took  (a) fewer than five days,  (b) between five and 10 days,  (c) between 10 and 20 days,  (d) between 20 and 30 days,  (e) between 30 and 50 days,  (f) between 50 and 100 days and  (g) over 100 days to process in each of the last (i) 12 months and (ii) five years for which information is available.

Jonathan R Shaw: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Acting Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Mel Groves. I have asked him to provide the right hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Mel Groves:
	The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has asked me to respond to your question asking how many and what proportion of claims for Incapacity Benefit and Employment and Support Allowance took (a) fewer than five days, (b) between five and 10 days, (c) between 10 and 20 days, (d) between 20 and 30 days, (e) between 30 and 50 days, (f) between 50 and 100 days and (g) over 100 days to process in each of the last (i) 12 months and (ii) five years for which information is available. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Acting Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	Our benefit processing system records, in terms of volumes and percentages, the number of Incapacity Benefit claims processed within the following time bandsin 10 days, in 40 days and over 40 days. The data provided below regarding the volumes is displayed cumulatively for the first two time band setsup to 10 days and then up to 40 days. The 40 days and over column shows the remaining claims processed beyond this time period. The percentage figures are not cumulative and are subject to rounding.
	This data has been available since 2006. I have provided you with the yearly total for 2006/07 and 2007/08. I have also provided you with the in-month data for the last 12 months.
	No information regarding Employment and Support Allowance will be released until the first set of official statistics is published in the Summer.
	 Annex
	
		
			  Incapacity Benefit claims processing 
			   Incapacity Benefit processed in  Percentage 
			  Month  10 days  11-40 days  40+ days  1-10 days  11-40 days  40 days+ 
			 March 2008 34,440 47,175 2,657 69.1 25.6 5.3 
			 April 2008 39,021 54,989 3,225 67.0 27.4 5.5 
			 May 2008 36,318 51,526 2,990 66.6 27.9 5.5 
			 June 2008 37,455 52,726 3,371 66.8 27.2 6.0 
			 July 2008 40,928 57,758 3,375 66.9 27.5 5.5 
			 August 2008 36,445 52,348 3,865 64.8 28.3 6.9 
			 September 2008 36,685 54,609 3,284 63.4 31.0 5.7 
			 October 2008 40,458 62,862 4,271 60.3 33.4 6.4 
			 November 2008 19,527 40,733 3,464 44.2 48.0 7.8 
			 December 2008 6,865 15,744 3,600 35.5 45.9 18.6 
			 January 2009 4,669 9,014 3,613 37.0 34.4 28.6 
			 February 2009 3,076 5,419 1,699 43.2 32.9 23.9 
			
			 2006-07 375,489 638,928 54,687 54.1 38.0 7.9 
			 2007-08 434,007 640,999 47,403 63.0 30.1 6.9

Incapacity Benefit

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people receiving benefits as a result of a long-term illness had had their case reviewed by Jobcentre Plus or its contractor ATOS by 1 March 2009.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 22 April 2009
	Information about the number of people with a long-term illness who have had their benefit entitlement reviewed by Jobcentre Plus is not collated centrally. Jobcentre Plus may ask Atos Healthcare for a reassessment as part of a review, but Atos Healthcare does not itself review cases.

Incapacity Benefit

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of adults receive a form of incapacity benefit.

Jonathan R Shaw: The information requested is as follows:
	
		
			  The number and proportion of adult incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance claimants in Great Britain: August 2008 
			  Total claimants aged 16 and over  Percentage of population  aged 16 and over 
			 2,632,000 5.5 
			  Notes: 1. Incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance claimants also include people receiving income support on grounds of incapacity. 2. Caseload is rounded to the nearest 10 and percentage to one decimal place. 3. Adult incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance claimants are those aged 16 and over. 4. Percentages have been calculated based on Office for National Statistics population estimates.  Source: DWP Information Directorate 100 per cent WPLS

Jobcentre Plus

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many branches of Jobcentre Plus there are in  (a) urban and  (b) rural areas.

Tony McNulty: We do not separately categorise Jobcentre Plus offices open to the public by urban, semi-rural or rural areas but our public facing network is designed to provide reasonable access to our services throughout Great Britain.

Jobseeker's Allowance

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much has been claimed by former  (a) heavy goods vehicle drivers,  (b) van drivers and  (c) other logistics workers in jobseeker's allowance in each of the last 12 months.

Tony McNulty: The Department does not collect expenditure information at the requested level of occupational group so no information on the amount of benefit claimed by heavy goods vehicle drivers, van drivers, and other logistics workers is available.

Jobseeker's Allowance: Bristol

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what the average processing time for jobseeker's allowance claims received from the residents of Bristol was in the last period for which figures are available;
	(2)  how many claims for jobseeker's allowance received from persons resident in Bristol West constituency are yet to be processed;
	(3)  what steps his Department is taking to reduce processing times for claims received for jobseeker's allowance in Bristol.

Tony McNulty: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Acting Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Mel Groves. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Mel Groves:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions asking what the average processing time for Jobseeker's Allowance claims received from Bristol was in the last period for which figures are available; how many claims for Jobseeker's Allowance received from persons resident in Bristol West constituency are yet to be processed; what steps the Department is taking to improve processing times for claims received for Jobseeker's Allowance in Bristol. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Acting Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	In Jobcentre Plus we aim to process Jobseeker's Allowance claims within an average of 11.5 working days. Jobseeker's Allowance claims for customers in Bristol are processed at our Bristol Benefit Delivery Centre. The latest figures available for Jobseeker's Allowance claims are for the month of March 2009. These figures show that during March 2009 the Bristol Benefit Delivery Centre processed Jobseeker's Allowance claims on average within 8.9 working days of the claim being made.
	Although figures are available for the number of Jobseeker's Allowance claims waiting to be processed, it is not possible to break this figure down into particular constituencies. On 27 April 2009 there were 1,387 new claims to Jobseeker's Allowance to be processed at Bristol Benefit Delivery Centre.
	During the operational year 2008/09 we processed all Jobseeker's Allowance claims in Bristol within 10.1 days. This is significant as during the twelve month period from April 2008 to March 2009 our Bristol Benefit Delivery Centre saw the number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance rise by 133.5 per cent from 8,550 to 19,960. Despite this increase in our workload we have continued to perform well in processing new claims.
	We anticipate that additional resources are required to deal with the increasing number of new claims to Jobseeker's Allowance arising during the economic downturn. We have recently recruited 130 new staff in the West of England district across a range of Jobcentre Plus offices and duties. These people are currently at various stages of the recruitment process; some have been recruited and trained, whilst others are awaiting screening clearance. Another 105 new staff have been recruited on a fixed term basis and are currently awaiting allocation to posts and training.

National Insurance Contributions

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the change in the number of people who would accrue contributory years of national insurance contributions as a result of charging employee national insurance contributions on aggregate income from all employments; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: Evidence from the Labour Force Survey 2006-08 shows that there are around 40,000 people who have two jobs each paying below the lower earnings limit but when aggregated their earnings are at least equal to the lower earnings limit. Around half of these people are estimated to already be accruing entitlement to contributory benefits through other interactions with the system and represent less than 0.1 per cent. of all people accruing entitlement to state pension in those years.
	These are point-in-time data and people are unlikely to remain in this position for lengthy periods and may well have other opportunities to build up qualifying years during their working lives. Reforms in the Pensions Act 2007, including the reduction in the number of qualifying years to 30 for a basic state pension, mean that from 2010 people reaching state pension age will have far greater opportunity to build up a full basic state pension entitlement.
	The aggregation of the earnings of people doing more than one job would add an increased burden for employers to comply with.

Pensions

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent estimate he has made of  (a) the number of people in the UK with stranded pensions and  (b) the monetary value of such pensions; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 21 May 2009
	The information is not collected centrally and therefore the numbers requested are not available.
	Government have introduced a number of changes to trivial commutation rules in recent years to help people avoid the problem of stranded pension pots. The 2004 Finance Act increased considerably the amount that could be trivially commuted from 2,500 in 2005-06 to 15,000 in 2006-07. This change benefits those with individual funds above the old limit. However, the limit applies to the aggregate value of all funds held by an individual (to ensure trivial commutation is not exploited for tax reasons) and so can still result in an individual with several pension funds facing one or more stranded pots.
	Easements to the trivial commutation rules for occupational pensions come into force 1 December 2009. These amend rules so that small occupational pension pots of less than 2,000 can be commuted as a trivial lump sum irrespective of the total value of funds held by the individual. This will help to ease the problem of stranded pensions.
	The problem of stranded pensions must be weighed against the need to make sure that pension savings, which attract favourable tax treatment, are ring-fenced to generate income in retirement.

Post Office Card Account

Lorely Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether holders of a Post Office Card Account will have access to the Link automated teller machine network under the terms of the new contract for that service.

Rosie Winterton: Under the terms of the new contract, from April 2010 Post Office card account holders will have access to automated teller machines (ATMs) within the Post Office network located throughout the United Kingdom, but this will not include ATMs operated through the LINK network.

Remploy: Pay

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 26 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 621-2W, on Remploy: pay, how much was paid in bonuses to  (a) managers and  (b) directors and executives working in (i) Employment Business and (ii) Employment Services.

Jonathan R Shaw: The available information is in the following tables.
	
		
			  Remploy bonuses 
			   
			   2000-01  2001-02 
			  Business  Managers  Directors  Total  Managers  Directors  Total 
			 Corporate 41,286 22,975 64,261 98,597 48,322 146,919 
			 Employment Services 112,665  112,665 104,218  104,218 
			 Enterprise Businesses 115,117 11,886 127,003 122,088 6,454 128,542 
			
			 Total 269,068 34,861 303,929 324,903 54,776 379,679 
		
	
	
		
			   2002-03  2003-04 
			  Business  Managers  Directors  Total  Managers  Directors  Total 
			 Corporate 16,799  16,799 10,095  10,095 
			 Employment Services 153,012  153,012 74,712  74,712 
			 Enterprise Businesses 89,820  89,820 438,809  438,809 
			
			 Total 259,631 0 259,631 523,616 0 523,616 
		
	
	
		
			   2004-05  2005-06 
			  Business  Managers  Directors  Total  Managers  Directors  Total 
			 Corporate 16,822 24,035 40,857 274,668  274,668 
			 Employment Services 182,432 5,210 187,642 248,664  248,664 
			 Enterprise Businesses 204,900  204,900 640,135  640,135 
			
			 Total 404,154 29,245 433,399 1,163,467 0 1,163,467 
		
	
	
		
			   2006-07  2007-08 
			  Business  Managers  Directors  Total  Managers  Directors  Total 
			 Corporate 304,258 82,000 386,258 301,915 110,600 412,515 
			 Employment Services 458,697  458,697 534,218  534,218 
			 Enterprise Businesses 393,075  393,075 820,368  820,368 
			
			 Total 1,156,030 82,000 1,238,030 1,656,501 110,600 1,767,101 
			  Source: Remploy

Social Security Benefits: Interviews

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether Jobcentre Plus plans to employ medical professionals to interview incapacity benefit claimants who would be transferred to the jobseeker's allowance scheme under the proposals of the Welfare Reform Bill.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 11 May 2009
	 We have announced that we plan to migrate existing recipients of incapacity benefits to employment and support allowance. Recipients will have to undertake a work capability assessment in order to determine their eligibility for employment and support allowance. Health care professionals defined in legislation as:
	a registered medical practitioner;
	a registered nurse; or
	an occupational therapist or physiotherapist registered with a regulatory body established by an Order in Council under section 60 of the Health Act 1999 (and);
	are employed by our contractors to undertake these assessments. This measure is not provided for by the Welfare Reform Bill currently before Parliament, but by the Welfare Reform Act 2007.

Social Security Benefits: Lone Parents

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent assessment he has made of the effect on single parent households of housing and council tax benefit rules that result in a reduction of benefit when  (a) eligibility for tax credits is established and  (b) a student maintenance grant is payable; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: In assessing entitlement to housing benefit and council tax benefit, regard is had to all forms of income. This includes taking into account in full any working tax credit and child tax credit in payment.
	Where an additional element of working tax credit is paid in respect of a person working more than 30 hours a week, a disregard of an equal amount is applied to their earnings. In addition, an earnings disregard can be applied to certain groups of people where the claimant or his partner is working for 16 hours or more. This is 25 for single parents.
	A deduction equal to the full value of relevant child care charges, or the maximum deduction if lower, can also be made. The maximum weekly deductions are 175 for one child and 300 for two or more children.
	Where a single parent student is eligible for a maintenance grant, these grants can be used by the student for any purpose, including daily living expenses. Where a student does not have a student loan and is not treated as having one, a standard amount towards the costs of books and equipment is deducted from the student's annual grant income. From the start of the 2008-09 academic year, this amount is 380 for books and equipment and 295 for travel. Any part of the grant paid for child care is disregarded. Additionally, if a student was to receive grants paid specifically for any non-maintenance elements, such as books and travel costs, these are also completely disregarded.
	We are satisfied that the above arrangements are working as intended and currently have no plans to change them. However, as with all aspects of the benefits system, they are subject to regular review.

Social Security Benefits: Medical Examinations

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many complaints have been received by his Department on medical assessment interviews included in work capability assessments, in relation to  (a) claimants' experiences of (i) the attitude of the doctor in conducting the interview and (ii) performing tasks at the request of the doctor as part of a physical examination and  (b) the accuracy of the records made by the doctor of the (A) responses given by claimants during interview and (B) assessment as a whole.

Jonathan R Shaw: Since the start of the employment support allowance up to 23 April, the most recent date for which information is available, the following information is available from work capability assessments:
	 Claimants' experiences
	33 complaints related to the attitude of the doctor conducting the interview; and
	27 complaints related to performing tasks at the request of the doctor as part of a physical examination.
	 Accuracy of the records made by the doctor
	62 complaints related to the accuracy of the recording of responses given by claimants during interview; and
	27 complaints related to the assessment as a whole.

State Retirement Pensions

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  if he will estimate the number of pensioners who would no longer be eligible for pension credit if the basic state pension were increased in line with earnings in each of the next five years;
	(2)  if he will estimate the number of pensioners who would no longer be classified as being in poverty if the basic state pension were increased in line with earnings in each of the next five years.

Rosie Winterton: Poverty is a complex and multidimensional issue and, as such, there are many possible measures of poverty.
	It is generally accepted that low income is central to any poverty measurement. Any current projection of the number of pensioners in low income would be subject to uncertainties around future income growth, changes in the income distribution and individual changes in behaviour in response to policy changes.
	While the Department does not publish projections on pensioner poverty, use of the static benefit model provides a broad indication of potential change going forward.
	Analysis shows no discernible change to the number of pensioners below 60 per cent. of median household income and also no discernible change to those eligible for pension credit if the basic state pension were increased in line with earnings in each of the next five years.
	We have committed to restoring the link with earnings in 2012 or by the end of the next Parliament at the latest. Earnings uprating is part of a coherent and affordable set of reforms which are intended to work in the long run as a complementary package which together mean that only around 40 per cent. of pensioner households will be entitled to one or more income related benefits by 2050 compared to around 75 per cent. in 2050 without reform.
	 Notes
	1. Analysis has been conducted using the Department's Policy Simulation Model.
	2. In the financial years up to and including 2014-15 Treasury Economic assumptions consistent with Budget 2009 have been used to model prices and earnings uprating.
	3. The model used is a static model. Estimates are therefore not a forecast of expected poverty, but a broad indication of the likely impact on poverty and pension credit caseload brought on purely from changing from price to earnings uprating, all else remaining constant.

STC: Paignton

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will take steps to ensure that the pensions of former employees of STC/Nortel Networks of Paignton, South Devon are protected by the Pension Protection Fund; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The eligibility criteria for the Pension Protection Fund are set out in the Pensions Act 2004.
	The Nortel Networks UK Pension Plan entered a Pension Protection Fund assessment period in March 2009. During an assessment period, the board of the Pension Protection Fund establishes whether the scheme can be rescued; whether it can afford to secure benefits which are at least equal to the compensation that the Pension Protection Fund would pay; or whether the scheme is eligible for compensation from the Pension Protection Fund.

UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 18 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 1209-10W, on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, whether he expects the necessary parliamentary processes required to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to be completed by the end of June; and what his latest estimate is of the date by which the Convention will be ratified by the UK.

Jonathan R Shaw: The parliamentary processes are now complete. As I said in my written statement to the House on 13 May 2009, we aim to ratify the convention on 8 June.

Unemployment

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what tailored support his Department provides for unemployed executives; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: As part of the Government's response to the economic downturn, the DWP put in place extra support for newly unemployed customers from the 6 April 2009, including a service for professionals and executives.
	Jobseeker's allowance customers who are interested in receiving advice about modern job search techniques and matching their skills to available vacancies will be referred from their first interview to an information session delivered by Jobcentre Plus. Those that need more coaching will be referred to an advice and coaching session delivered by external providers. Newly unemployed professionals who need extra help will be referred from their first interview in the jobcentre to organisations specialising in support for professionals and executives.
	There are places for 350,000 newly unemployed customers (the service for people from a professional or executive occupation will support a proportion of this overall number) over the period 2009-10 and 2010-11.

Unemployment: Young People

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assistance his Department provides for newly unemployed young people.

Tony McNulty: The Government are committed to giving everyone the support they need to find employment as quickly as possible, whatever their age.
	On 6 April 2009, as part of the Government's response to the economic downturn, the Department for Work and Pensions put in place extra support for newly unemployed customers. This will be available from the initial interview at Jobcentre Plus, and can be tailored for those who have recently left a professional or executive job. It will include information and advice about the latest job search techniques and coaching on how to make the most of transferable skills, delivered through one hour group information sessions and one on one advice and coaching.
	In addition to this, since last autumn the Department has quadrupled the available funding for the Rapid Response Service, which provides advice and support to customers facing redundancy. It has also extended Local Employment Partnerships, the Adviser Discretion Fund and Access to Work so they are available to customers from the first day of their claim, alongside the support they receive from their Jobcentre Plus personal adviser.
	This help is available to customers of all ages to ensure that everyone has the best possible chance of finding work.
	For young people who are in danger of slipping into long-term unemployment, funding was provided in the Budget for a guaranteed offer of a job, work-focused training, or meaningful activity to all 18 to 24-year-olds before they have reached the 12-month stage of their claim to jobseeker's allowance. We expect this to be available from early 2010, but we are aiming to get an offer in place as soon as possible, with some jobs available as early as October 2009.

Welfare Reform Bill

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much has been allocated for training for Jobcentre Plus staff to undertake functions accorded to them under the provisions of the Welfare Reform Bill.

Tony McNulty: The information is not readily available because the specific training costs for the provisions of the Welfare Reform Bill form only part of our overall Learning and Development programme. The data needed to isolate the Welfare Reform elements could be requested and collated only at disproportionate cost.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

10 Downing Street: Catering

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the answers of 4 February 2009,  Official Report, column 1199W, on food: public sector, and of 11 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1130W, on 10 Downing Street: catering, whether 10 Downing Street implements the public sector food procurement initiative to provide that genetically-modified food and ingredients may not be used in its catering.

Kevin Brennan: I have nothing further to add to my earlier answer.

Bowel Cancer

Greg Knight: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many cases of bowel cancer were  (a) diagnosed and  (b) resulted in death in the last year for which figures are available.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated May 2009:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many cases of bowel cancer were  (a) diagnosed and  (b) resulted in death in the last year for which figures are available.
	Colorectal cancer, another name for bowel cancer, is cancer of the colon and rectum combined. The latest available figures for newly diagnosed cases (incidence) of colorectal cancer are for the year 2006. There were  (a) 30,046 cases diagnosed in England in 2006. It is not possible to provide the number of colorectal cancer deaths that occurred to cases diagnosed with colorectal cancer.
	Death registration data provide mortality figures for colorectal cancer. There were  (b) 12,844 deaths from colorectal cancer in England in 2007, the latest year available.

Breast Cancer: Cleveland

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many  (a) men and  (b) women have been (i) diagnosed with and (ii) successfully treated for breast cancer in Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency in the last 12 years.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated May 2009:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many (a) men and (b) women have been (i) diagnosed with and (ii) successfully treated for breast cancer in Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency in the last 12 years. (276634)
	The latest available figures for newly diagnosed cases of cancer (incidence) are for the year 2006 for England. There were (i) five newly diagnosed cases of breast cancer in (a) men resident in Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency over the twelve year period from 1995 to 2006. Table 1 gives the numbers of (i) newly diagnosed cases of breast cancer for (b) women resident in Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency for each year from 1995 to 2006.
	It cannot be stated definitively whether a patient with breast cancer has been (ii) 'successfully treated'. For most cancers, but not breast, five-year survival rates are often taken to be 'cure' rates.
	Survival rates are not available for constituencies. ONS regularly publishes one-and five-year relative survival for patients resident in England, government office regions and strategic health authorities.
	Table 2 shows the predicted long-term survival rates for women diagnosed with breast cancer in 2001-03 (the most recent period for which data are available) for the North East government office region that includes Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency.
	Survival rates for men diagnosed with breast cancer are not available. Male breast cancer accounts for less than one per cent of all breast cancer cases.
	
		
			  Table 1: Registrations of newly diagnosed cases of breast cancer( 1)  for women: Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland parliamentary constituency , 1995 to 2006 
			   Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland 
			 1995 60 
			 1996 56 
			 1997 50 
			 1998 74 
			 1999 59 
			 2000 62 
			 2001 81 
			 2002 79 
			 2003 71 
			 2004 85 
			 2005 57 
			 2006 60 
			 (1) Breast cancer is coded to C50 in the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10).  Source:  Office for National Statistics. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Predicted long-term relative survival( 1)  from breast cancer( 2)  for women aged 15-99: North East government office region, 2001 to 2003( 3) 
			  Duration of survival (years)  Relative survival (percentage ) 
			 One year 94.0 
			 Five years 79.8 
			 Ten years 69.2 
			 Fifteen years 65.6 
			 (1) Relative survival takes into account that some cancel patients will die from causes other than their cancer. (2) Breast cancer is coded to C50 in the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). (3) Based on all women diagnosed with breast cancer between 1981 and 2001, who were alive for at least part of the period 2001-03.  Source:  Office for National Statistics, available on the ONS website at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Product.asp?vlnk=14172

Central Office of Information: Expenditure

Alan Beith: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what expenditure the Central Office of Information (COI) has incurred in each Government region on  (a) newspaper,  (b) radio,  (c) television,  (d) poster and  (e) internet advertising in each year since 2005; by what method the effectiveness of such advertising is evaluated; and whether the COI holds information on expenditure incurred on advertising by Government departments other than the Cabinet Office.

Liam Byrne: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Central Office of Information. I have asked the chief executive to reply.
	 Letter from Peter Buchanan, dated 20 April 2009:
	As Acting Chief Executive of the Central Office of Information (COI), I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question on Government regional expenditure (267039).
	The total expenditure incurred by COI in each year since 2005 is given in the table below:
	
		
			  Expenditure by fiscal year/medium 
			   million 
			   2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 TV 83.1 65.9 72.9 
			 Press 43.4 39.3 51 
			 Radio 26.2 28.6 34.3 
			 Out-of-home 17.1 20.1 19.1 
			 Cinema 0.5 2.3 4.4 
			 Digital advertising 4.9 7.9 11.6 
			  Note: All costs are gross media spend. 
		
	
	The manner in which media is planned, sold and bought does not align with Government regions. Indeed the vast majority of media spend is committed at a national level.
	There would be a disproportionate cost to break it down by Government region, and it would not be accurate.
	In terms of the evaluation of the effectiveness, virtually all advertising placed through COI is fully evaluated using techniques such as recall, tracking, attitudinal shifts and awareness. All response data is fully captured for evaluation purposes.
	I can confirm that COI do hold financial information on media expenditure made through us by our clients.

Departmental Marketing

Ann Coffey: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much his Department has spent on advertising in weekly and regional newspapers in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested for the Cabinet Office is not readily available and may not be obtained without incurring disproportionate costs.

Ministerial Policy Advisers: Conduct

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many investigations there have been into alleged breaches of the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers since 27 June 2007.

Liam Byrne: Special advisers' duties and responsibilities are set out in the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers. Any investigation into alleged breaches of the Code of Conduct for special advisers is a matter for individual Departments.
	Copies of the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers are available in the Library of the House and also available at
	http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/propriety_and_ethics/special_advisers/code/code.aspx.

Unemployment: Graduates

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what recent estimate he has made of the percentage of qualified  (a) law,  (b) medical and  (c) engineering graduates in the UK who are unemployed.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated May 2009:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what percentage of qualified  (a) law,  (b) medical and  (c) engineering graduates in the UK are unemployed. (276621)
	Estimates for the percentage of unemployed people previously employed in professional occupations are published by the Office for National Statistics, derived from the Labour Force Survey (LFS). However, estimates for the percentage of unemployed graduates qualified in these professions are not available.

OLYMPICS

Olympic Games 2012: Construction

Charlotte Atkins: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what contracts the Olympic Delivery Authority has let for sustainable regular delivery of construction materials by water; and what proportion of deliveries of such materials she expects to be made by  (a) water,  (b) rail and  (c) other modes of transport.

Tessa Jowell: To date, delivery of construction materials to the Olympic Park site by water has been in the form of pilot operations to determine wharf locations and areas that require dredging. Regular use of the waterways will commence this summer following the opening of Prescott Lock in June which will enable 350-tonne barge access into the site.
	The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) is firmly committed to sustainability and actively encourages all contractors to use sustainable transportation methods. The ODA Sustainability Development Strategy (2007) states that 50 per cent. of construction materials (by weight) will be transported by sustainable means. There are no specific targets in relation to water or rail transportation.
	In May 2008, Aggregate Industries was appointed sole provider of all aggregate materials needed for the construction of the venues and infrastructure to the Olympic Park including sand, gravel, crushed stone and recycled concrete. Aggregate Industries aims to transport 99 per cent. of aggregate materials via sustainable transport methods, surpassing the ODA's target of 50 per cent. The aim is that approximately 74 per cent. of the aggregate materials will be transported by rail and 25 per cent. by water, with only 1 per cent. transported by road for specialist materials which do not have established rail and water links.

Olympic Games 2012: Construction

Charlotte Atkins: To ask the Minister for the Olympics when the regular  (a) delivery of construction materials to and  (b) removal of materials from the Olympic site by water will begin.

Tessa Jowell: Regular use of the waterways is expected to commence this summer following the scheduled completion in June of the dredging programme, wharf works near the Aquatics Centre venue, and the opening of Prescott Lock giving site access to barges of 350-tonne load capacity.
	The opening of navigable waterways will enable freight barges to carry construction materials in, and waste out, of the park during the construction phase and the Olympic Delivery Authority actively encourages contractors to employ sustainable transport methods at every opportunity. The Olympic stadium contractor, for example, is already arranging regular delivery of construction steelwork to its venue site using this revitalised network of park waterways.

Olympic Games 2012: Cultural Relations

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Minister for the Olympics how much has been spent on the International Inspiration programme since its inception; and in which countries such expenditure has been incurred.

Tessa Jowell: The International Inspiration programme is operating in Azerbijan, Brazil, India, Palau, Zambia, Bangladesh, Mozambique, Jordan and Trinidad and Tobago, with scoping visits having taken place to a further three countries.
	The total expenditure since the start of the programme in October 2007 has been 7,784,000.

HEALTH

Cancer: Research

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much and what proportion of its funding the National Cancer Research Institute has provided for  (a) brain tumour,  (b) leukaemia,  (c) lung cancer,  (d) colo-rectal cancer,  (e) breast cancer,  (f) prostate cancer and  (g) other cancer-related research in each of the last five years.

Dawn Primarolo: The National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) is a membership organisation the brings together the major funders of cancer research in government, the voluntary sector and industry along with cancer patient representatives to ensure a national strategic approach to cancer research. The NCRI does not itself fund or manage research.
	The NCRI published an analysis of the national cancer research portfolio that includes details of expenditure by its partner organisations on research into individual tumour sites.
	The analysis is available online at:
	www.ncri.org.uk/includes/Publications/reports/analysisReport08.pdf
	A more detailed account of annual aggregated portfolio expenditure is given in an associated data package available at:
	www.ncri.org.uk/includes/Publications/reports/Data_ package.xls.

Chlamydia: Prisoners

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many women's prisons offered chlamydia testing for inmates in each of the last five years.

Dawn Primarolo: The Department does not have data on the number of female prisons that offered testing for chlamydia via sexual health services in each of the last five years.
	Sexual health services in prisons are provided by local national health service acute trusts through commissioning arrangements with the local primary care trust in England or Health Board in Wales.
	Such services provide data on tests performed and positive results to the Centre for Infections of the Health Protection Agency (HPA) through KC60 returns (now phased out) or, more recently, through a system of reporting called GUMCAD (genito-urinary medicine clinical activity data). However, prison-specific data are not currently disaggregated; however, the HPA is currently exploring such disaggregation.

Coeliac Disease

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to establish a national register for people diagnosed with coeliac disease as a means of monitoring the management of the condition in the NHS.

Ann Keen: There are no plans to establish a national register for people diagnosed with coeliac disease.

Departmental Billing

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies paid in interest to suppliers under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 in the last three years for which figures are available.

Ben Bradshaw: Details of all payments made in respect of interest to suppliers under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 for the three years ended 31 March 2009 are as follows.
	 Department of Health
	
		
			
			 2006-07 135,000.00 
			 2007-08 0 
			 2008-09 91.28 
		
	
	 Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
	No payments made in the period 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2009.
	 NHS Purchasing and Supplies Agency
	No payments made in the period 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2009.

Departmental Buildings

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department spent on building maintenance in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department and its Executive agencies, the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency and Medical and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has spent the following sums on building maintenance:
	
		
			
			 2004-05 711,692 
			 2005-06 915,980 
			 2006-07 830,564 
			 2007-08 1,001,019 
			 2008-09 1,034,094 
		
	
	The costs include maintenance costs that the Department undertake on behalf of MHRA and who are billed for this work. However, MHRA are in buildings where the landlord undertakes some of the maintenance and building improvement work and charge MHRA on a pro rata basis with other tenants in the buildings. MHRA are unable to break the figures down between maintenance and improving departmental buildings.

Departmental Contracts

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which services his Department has outsourced in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: In 2006, an agreement was entered into with Xansa UK Ltd., which involved three Government Departments, the Department of Health, Directgov and the Department for Education and Skills. This agreement was for the provision of a fully managed and hosted Content Management System and related services for each of the Departments' websites.
	In 2008, an agreement was entered into with NHS Shared Business Services for the provision of support services for the Department's Business Management System. The outsourcing is not quite complete but the only action left is to finalise the terms and conditions of the contract. It is estimated that this will be complete by June 2009.
	No other central support functions have been outsourced within the last five years.

Departmental Marketing

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much planned expenditure on advertising has been incurred by his Department and its executive agencies in each month of each of the last five years.

Ben Bradshaw: We are undertaking a review and reconciliation process on the last five years of the Department's advertising spend and so I regret the information requested is not currently available.

Departmental Official Cars

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 2 February 2009,  Official Report, column 939W, on official cars, how many of the cars  (a) hired and  (b) leased by (i) his Department and (ii) its agencies are over six years old.

Ben Bradshaw: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport, on 21 May 2009,  Official Report, column 1489, about cars provided by the Government Car and Despatch Agency.
	Additionally, the Department and its Executive agencies, NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency (NHS PASA) and the Medical and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency have an arrangement with Arval PHH for hire of vehicles. This is part of an Office of Government Commerce framework contract, which does not stipulate the age of the vehicle.
	The Department previously reported in its answer on 2 February 2009, Offic ial Report, column 939W, that it had two private lease vehicles used by departmental staff under an arrangement operated by HM Revenue and Customs. These two leased vehicles were disposed of in February of this year.
	NHS PASA have a number of leased vehicles but none are over six years old. Leases are taken out on a three-year term.

Departmental Stationery

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department spent on the purchase of  (a) recycled office supplies in the last 12 months and  (b) printer ink cartridges in each of the last five years.

Ben Bradshaw: Departmental spend on recycled office supplies and printer ink cartridges in each of the last five years is:
	
		
			   
			  Period  Supplies  Cartridges 
			 2004-05 101,826  
			 2005-06 88,158  
			 2006-07 206,774 47,930 
			 2007-08 205,680 6,587 
			 2008-09 277,888 7,851 
		
	
	The increase over time in expenditure on recycled office supplies is due largely to a move to the use of recycled paper.

Departmental Work Experience

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many work placements his Department offered to  (a) school pupils,  (b) university students and  (c) graduates in each of the last five years.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department does not hold any central records of student placements or persons on work experience, and national health service trainees. These are arranged by local sections and directorates. It would incur disproportionate costs to collect the information requested.

Departmental Written Questions

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what percentage of answers to parliamentary questions provided by his Department have been the subject of a subsequent correction in each of the last five years; how many such corrections have been made by  (a) Written Ministerial Correction,  (b) a letter to the hon. Member tabling the Question and  (c) other means; and what criteria his Department uses to determine by which method to issue a correction.

Ben Bradshaw: The procedure for making corrections to answers to parliamentary questions was introduced from November 2007 and information is not available from an earlier date.
	Since November 2007, we have made 22 written ministerial corrections and issued six written ministerial statements to correct written answers. This represents 0.2 per cent. of the 12,310 written Commons questions received during that period. For the criteria used to judge whether a correction or a statement should be issued, I refer the hon. Member to the 2(nd) Report from the Procedure Committee Corrections to the Official Report (HC541) on 19 June 2007 and the written ministerial statement issued by my right hon. and learned Friend the Leader of the House of Commons and Lord Privy Seal (Harriet Harman) on 18 October 2007,  Official Report, column 55WS. On each case, we seek advice from the Table Office.

Derriford Hospital: Waiting Lists

Linda Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients waited less than 13 weeks for an outpatient appointment at Derriford Hospital in the latest period for which figures are available.

Ben Bradshaw: The information on the number of patients who waited less than 13 weeks for an out-patient appointment at Derriford Hospital is not available in the format requested. Information is only available by trust and on the number of patients still waiting under 13 weeks at the end of each month. Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust had 6,636 out-patients waiting under 13 weeks at the end of March 2009. The trust had one patient waiting over 13 weeks.

Disability Aids

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made on the Transforming Community Equipment and Wheelchair Services programme; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: The Transforming Community Equipment team has designed a radical new model for delivery of community equipment, which will give state-supported users the choice not previously available. This has been adopted by seven local authorities and we are currently working with a further 10 partnerships.
	The Department is considering the future model for wheelchair services.

Drugs: Durham

John Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the treatment of drug misuse in the Durham Primary Care Trust area in each of the last three years.

Dawn Primarolo: The following table shows expenditure on substance misuse by the County Durham Primary Care Trust for the last three years in which data are available.
	
		
			   Expenditure on own population (000) 
			 2004-05 3,412 
			 2005-06 3,988 
			 2006-07 4,362 
			  Note: Figures do not include prevention or general medical services expenditure.  Source: Department of Health Programme Budgeting

Drugs: Easington

John Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of people in Easington constituency who received treatment for drug misuse in each of the last three years.

Dawn Primarolo: The following table shows the estimated number of people in treatment in Easington for the last three years in which data are available.
	
		
			   Number 
			  2006-07  
			 Easington adults 590 
			 Easington young people 51 
			   
			  2007-08  
			 Easington adults 553 
			 Easington young people 49 
			   
			  2008-09  
			 Easington adults 425 
			 Easington young people 60 
			  Notes: 1. Estimated figures are provided for the three year period 2006-07 to 2008-09 2. Estimated figures have been provided by County Durham Drug and Alcohol Action Team and adults are defined as 18 or over, young people are under 18.

Health Services: Young People

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people under the age of 18 years  (a) in each strategic health authority and  (b) treated by each healthcare provider had diagnosis codes of (i) W26, (ii) W32, (iii) W33, (iv) W34, (v) W50, (vi) X93, (vii) X94, (viii) X95, (ix) X99, (x) Y00, (xi) Y04, (xii) Y08, (xiii) Y09, (xiv) Y22, (xv), Y23 and (xvi) Y24 in each of the last six years.

Dawn Primarolo: A response to the question has been provided by strategic health authority (SHA) of residence for each year (2002-03 to 2007-08) and a copy has been placed in the Library. It is not possible to include the requested information by healthcare provider/trust because the numbers would be so small that the vast majority would need to be suppressed in order to preserve anonymity.
	Due to the SHA reconfiguration in 2006-07, 28 SHAs merged to form 10 larger SHAs. The number of admissions do not represent the number of patients as a patient may have been admitted more than once within the year.

Herbal Medicine: EU Action

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many applications have been received by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency for the registration of products under the provisions of the EU Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive; how many such applications have been  (a) accepted and  (b) rejected; how many such applications remain under consideration; and what guidance is available to small and medium-sized companies on making such applications.

Dawn Primarolo: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has so far received 68 applications to register products under the traditional herbal registration scheme implemented in line with the requirements of Directive 2004/24/EC. 31 registrations have been granted and the remaining 37 applications are under assessment. To date no applications have been refused.
	A wide range of European guidelines is available for industry, for example on meeting the relevant quality and manufacturing standards. We recognise that moving from a largely unregulated environment into systematic medicines regulation represents a significant challenge for parts of the over-the-counter herbal medicines sector. Accordingly, the MHRA has been running a programme to manage the regulatory impact of the directive. This includes the opportunity for individual companies seeking to progress applications to register products under the scheme to be given regulatory and scientific advice. Our expectation is that, as with any such new scheme, with growing experience an increasing range of companies will become confident in operating under these regulatory arrangements.

Hospital Beds

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the NHS bed availability and occupancy statistics for 2008-09.

Ben Bradshaw: As set out in the Department's statistics publication plan available at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Statistics/CodeOfPractice/DH_4016423
	NHS bed availability and occupancy statistics for 2008-09 will be published on 30 September 2009. A copy of the plan has been placed in the Library.

Measles: Vaccination

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of children aged six years old and under have been inoculated against measles in  (a) England,  (b) the North East,  (c) Teesside and  (d) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency.

Dawn Primarolo: Information of the percentage of children immunised against measles, mumps and rubella by their fifth birthday is contained in 'NHS Immunisation Statistics, England 2007-08', which has already been placed in the Library.

Mental Health Services

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make an estimate of the number of NHS counsellors required to deal with the increase in mental health problems resulting from the economic downturn in 2009.

Phil Hope: No estimate has been made at national level, as the provision of mental health staff is decided by the national health service locally. However, we know that demand for psychological help rises in economic downturns, so the Secretary of State for Health and the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions announced in March a 13 million package of measures to support people with distress. The package involves accelerating the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme and ensuring that all the programme's services recruit employment support co-ordinators to join up health and job centre services in ways that are tailor-made for individuals' different situations. As a result of these measures, every primary care trust in the country will be beginning to offer these services next year.

Mentally Ill: Prisoners

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what response he has made to the recommendation made in the Bradley Report on people with mental health problems in the criminal justice system for a minimum target for the NHS of 14 days to transfer a prisoner with acute, severe mental illness to an appropriate healthcare setting.

Phil Hope: The Department is currently exploring ways to make progress towards a 14-day standard waiting time for transfers, through the provision of guidance and support to the national health service and criminal justice system to work in closer partnership and reduce delays for this vulnerable group.
	The Government recognise that there is a need to improve the timeliness of access to secure mental health care by prisoners with acute, severe mental illness. In his report on people with mental health problems or learning disabilities in the criminal justice system (published 30 April 2009), Lord Bradley has recommended that a target of 14 days should be set. The Government's Health and Criminal Justice Board, which is just being established, will consider the feasibility of such a target. It will also ensure that where further guidance to the NHS and criminal justice agencies is necessary, this is issued by 2010, so that along with improved commissioning of services and availability of secure health services, the goals of improved security and timely access to secure health services by prisoners can be achieved.

Mentally Ill: Prisoners

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time for transfer from prison to hospital under the Mental Health Act 1983 was in  (a) each primary care trust area,  (b) each prison and  (c) England in (i) 2005, (ii) 2006, (iii) 2007 and (iv) 2008.

Phil Hope: Information is not available in the requested format. Each prison records the waiting time for mental health transfers, starting from acceptance as suitable for transfer under the Mental Health Act 2007 to actual transfer date. Data on individual prisons are reported by each primary care trust but are not collected centrally.
	The indicator which is traditionally reported nationally is the number awaiting transfer for 12 weeks or longer. These data are collected quarterly and data for the four most recent years are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of prisoners with a severe mental illness, and who had been waiting longer than 12 weeks for transfer from prison to hospital, in England 2005-08 
			  Reporting period  Number of individuals waiting longer than 12 weeks for a transfer to hospital 
			 March 2005 51 
			 June 2005 62 
			 September 2005 58 
			 December 2005 40 
			 March 2006 43 
			 June 2006 44 
			 September 2006 43 
			 December 2006 38 
			 March 2007 44 
			 June 2007 46 
			 September 2007 51 
			 December 2007 41 
			 March 2008 24 
			 June 2008 36 
			 September 2008 34 
			 December 2008 26 
			  Source: Offender Mental HealthDepartment of Health/Ministry of Justice

NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to wind up the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency (PASA); what effect he expects the winding up of NHS PASA to have on  (a) the NHS business services contract with DHL and  (b) cost savings achieved on the contract with DHL in the 12 month period following the wind up.

Ben Bradshaw: The NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency (NHS PASA) will be closed before April 2010 as a consequence of the information of the new Commercial Operating Model, published on 7 May 2009 and copies have been placed in the Library. However, in order to support planned efficiencies it is anticipated that much of the transition of functions will be concluded by September 2009.
	The closure of NHS PASA will not affect the Department's contract with DHL or the cost savings achievable on the contract.

NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency: Official Hospitality

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency has spent on hospitality and entertainment in each of the last five years.

Ben Bradshaw: The NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency has spent nil on hospitality and entertainment over the last five years.

NHS: Expenditure

Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how his Department monitors the expenditure by primary care trusts of funding provided by his Department.

Ben Bradshaw: Each primary care trust (PCT) has a statutory duty to maintain its expenditure within the resource limits set for revenue and capital. The Department monitors PCT expenditure and performance against this duty at regular intervals during the year, and reports the aggregate PCT financial position in the audited PCT summarised account after the year end.
	During the financial year, the Department collects detailed information relating to the financial position of all national health service (NHS) organisations, including PCTs, on a quarterly basis. In addition, the Department also collects key financial performance data from the NHS in a number of the intervening months between each quarter. Information relating to each PCTs forecast outturn and revenue resource limit (RRL) is published in The Quarter, the Department's regular update on NHS finance and service performance.
	At the end of each financial year, PCTs publish their audited statutory accounts and submit accounting summarisation schedules to the Department. These schedules are aggregated, and the result both consolidated into the Department's overall Resource account and used to produce the PCT summarised account.

NHS: Finance

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what projections his Department has made of the change in each NHS hospital trust's income resulting from the implementation of HRG4;
	(2)  how much each hospital earned under HRG3 in the latest year for which figures are available; and what estimate he has made of the income each would have earned for the same work in that period under HRG4.

Ben Bradshaw: Information about national health service hospital income from the national tariff is not separately identified in their accounts. However, the Department has collected this information as part of the central payment mechanism for the market forces factor (MFF) since 2005-06. The latest available information is for 2007-08, when healthcare resource group (HRG) version 3.5 was the tariff currency, and is shown in table 1.
	The Department has made no estimate of what NHS hospital income would have been in 2007-08 under HRG4. However, the Department did consider the impact on NHS hospital national tariff income between 2008-09 and 2009-10 resulting from the move from HRG version 3.5 to HRG5 in 2009-10 and this is shown in table 2. Because this analysis also includes the impact of the revised MFF, and uses historical activity data from 2006-07 and 2007-08 and national assumptions which may vary locally, it is only an estimate of the actual impact of HRG4.
	Copies of both tables have been placed in the Library.

NHS: Finance

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what  (a) methodology and  (b) criteria are used to determine the NHS Tariff.

Ben Bradshaw: The methodology and criteria underpinning the calculation of the national tariff are described in a step-by-step guide, which is published annually. The guide for 2009-10 has been placed in the Library and is available on the Department's website at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_094182

NHS: Finance

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the  (a) job description,  (b) salary band and  (c) grade is of each official in his Department working on the NHS Tariff.

Ben Bradshaw: The following table includes information for all staff involved in work which contributes to the production of the national tariff, including the collection of reference costs and costing policy, future tariff development and governance procedures. The salary scales shown are the minimum and maximum salaries for staff, who can be based in either Leeds or London.
	
		
			  Grade  Salary band in 2009-10  Headcount  Job descriptions 
			 Senior Civil Service 2 82,900 - 162,500 1 Head of classification and costing 
			 Senior Civil Service 1 58,200 - 117,750 2 Heads of development and operations 
			 Grade 6 54,617 - 73,828 3 Senior managers for currency and tariff development, tariff pricing and structure, governance and evaluation 
			 Grade 7 43,348 - 60,962 7 Section heads for policy, costing, analysis and economic advice 
			 Senior Executive Officer 32,148 - 45,118 11 Senior policy, tariff development, costing and analysis managers 
			 Fast Stream 28,884 - 41,546 4 Assistant economists and policy managers 
			 Higher Executive Officer 25,534 - 33,019 4 Assistant analysis and business managers 
			 Executive Officer 20,417 - 28,112 3 Policy and business support 
			 Administrative Officer 16,229 - 19,478 1 Administrative support

NHS: ICT

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what percentage of each local service provider contract for the National Programme for IT is apportioned to the Care Records Service;
	(2)  what the estimated cost of each system within the National Care Records Service is; and what the cost of each contract for delivery of the service is.

Ben Bradshaw: The NHS Care Record Service (NHS CRS) comprises a number of national services, and compliant local applications, for example, trust patient administration systems and general practitioner systems. The key nationally-funded components of the NHS CRS are delivered via the spine and the local service provider (LSP) contracts.
	The estimated lifetime value of the relevant contracts is in the table at 2004-05 prices. This was the basis used in The National Programme for IT in the NHS: Project Progress Report (National Audit Office 16 May 2008).
	
		
			  Contract   million 
			 BT LSP (1)1,567.0 
			 South LSP (2) 
			 CSC LSP 3,007.0 
			 Spine 889.0 
			 (1) Original value 1,021 million, but including an addition for work in the South now transferred by Contract Change Notice (CCN) to BT. (2) This contract, with Fujitsu, was terminated at the end of May 2008. The value of future planned expenditure on national programme systems and services in the South will be determined following a review of local national health service requirements, and subject to relevant business case approval. 
		
	
	Costs specific to the individual components of the NHS CRS supported by the spine are not separately identified within the spine contract. The value of LSP contracts and entitlement to payment under the contracts is structured around the provision and ongoing support to NHS organisations within the LSP area of the complete raft of systems and services that will meet the agreed requirements set out in the contracts. The contracts do not specify costs relating to individual systems and services.

NHS: Public Participation

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will bring forward legislation to compel NHS Foundation Trusts to hold board meetings in public; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: A written ministerial statement on Mid-Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust (FT) was issued on 30 April in response to the reports of the independent reviews undertaken by Professor Sir George Alberti and Dr. David Colin-Thom.
	There is no legal requirement for board of directors meetings to be open to the public and there are no plans to bring forward legislation to compel them to do so. However, the Government response to the Alberti and Colin-Thom reports stated:
	These reports and the Health Commission report were highly critical of the closed culture that operated at Stafford Hospital. All NHS organisations must ensure they are operating in accordance with current guidance, which promotes openness, transparency and accountability to their local populations, including boards holding meetings in public.
	The NHS Foundation Trust Code of Governance, published by Monitor, the independent regulator of NHS FTs, states that the board of directors of an NHS FT should
	follow a policy of openness and transparency in its proceedings and decision making unless this conflicts with a need to protect the wider interests of the public or the NHS foundation trust (including commercial-in-confidence matters) and make clear how potential conflicts of interests are dealt with.

Patient Choice Schemes

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent research his Department has  (a) commissioned and  (b) reviewed on patient choice in the NHS.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department commissions and reviews numerous papers on choice. The following answer shows the details of many of the papers, research and surveys on patient choice that the Department has commissioned and reviewed in recent years.
	As part of its ongoing patient choice programme the Department commissions research on various aspects of choice policy.
	The Department commissioned a series of national patient choice surveys to assess the implementation of choice at primary care trust (PCT) level. The National Patient Choice Survey is a series of surveys, conducted by Ipsos MORI on behalf of the Department. They monitor patient awareness of choice and recall of having been offered a choice of hospital for their first outpatient appointment. They were designed to provide a national overview of choice with summary results at PCT level (initially bi-monthly and now quarterly) and generally have an effective response rate around 30 per cent. Surveys also contain information on respondents' age, sex and ethnicity. The report of the December 2008 survey was published on 7 May 2009.
	The Health Reform Evaluation Programme (HREP) is a programme of research being coordinated by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) to evaluate the reforms set out in the Department's publication Health Reform in England: update and next steps. This includes research on a range of issues including patient choice. Final reporting will begin in 2010. As part of the HREP, LSHTM have also conducted a systematic review of the impact of patient choice of provider in the English NHS(1) (2009). An ongoing study under this programme which is yet to report is entitled Effects of choice and market reform on inequalities of access to health care.
	The Department commissions a module on attitudes to health issues in the British Social Attitudes annual survey conducted by Natcen. This involves a series of questions about social attitudes towards health and health services. Some of these questions are about attitudes towards patient choice. The results of the survey are published in a report on an annual basis(2).
	The Department is conducting regional awareness campaigns on patient choice and has commissioned an evaluation of these campaigns.
	Other research on patient choice commissioned by the Department includes:
	
		
			  Title of document/research programme  Date  Author  Available from/on 
			 London Patient Choice Programme 2005 NHS London www.londonchoice.nhs.uk/about-programmeoverview.php 
			 Are patients choosing? 2009 Henderson, Robertson and Dixon British Journal of Healthcare Management 15 (2): 77-80 
			 NHS maternity services quantitative research 2005 TNS System Three www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_4124246 
			 Literature review on choice and mental health 2005 Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health www.library.nhs.uk/PPI/ViewResource.aspx?resID=250438 
		
	
	The Department reviews research on various aspects of choice policy. Following is a table with details of many of the pieces of research that have been reviewed that are directly relevant to patient choice in the national health service.
	
		
			  Title of document  Date  Author  Available from/on 
			 Improving choice at end of life. London: King's Fund 2008 Addicot, R. and Dewar,  S. King's Fund http://www.kingsfund.org.uk/research/publications/improving_choice_at.html 
			 Cancer and the future of Choice 2006 Barclay, M. (Macmillan Cancer Support)  
			 Why do patients change their general practitioner? A postal questionnaire study of patients in Avon 1993 Billighurst, B. and Whitfield, M. British Journal of General Practice 43: 336-338 
			 Will more choice improve outcomes in Education and Health Care? 2005 Burgess, S. The Evidence from Economic Research. CMPO: London www.bris.ac.uk/Depts/CMPO/choice.pdf 
			 Just what the patient ordered. Better GP services. CBI: London 2007 CBI www.cbi.org.uk/pdf/gpservices0907.pdf 
			 A healthy choice: building a stronger NHS. CBI: London 2008 CBI www.cbi.org.uk/pdf/A%20healthy%20choice_Building%20a%20stronger%20NHS_June2008.pdf 
			 Hospital at Home or Acute Hospital Care? A Cost-Minimisation Analysis 1998 Coast J., Richards S.H., Peters T.J., Gunnell D.J., Darlow M.A., Pounsford J. BMJ 316: 1802-1806 
			 Registering choice: how primary care should change to meet patients needs 2005 Corrigan, Social Market Foundation http://www.smf.co.uk/registering-choice-how-primary-care-should-change-to-meet-patient-needsl.html 
			 Evaluation of London Patient Choice 2004 Coulter A. et al (Picker Institute) www.londonchoice.nhs.uk/documents/Patient-Experience-Study-LPC-(PICKER).pdf 
			 Evidence on the effectiveness of strategies to improve patients' experience of cancer care 2007 Coulter, A. www.pickereurope.org/Filestore/PIE_reports/project_reports/Cancer_reform_strategy_Macmillan.pdf 
			 Where are the patients in decision-making about their own care? Copenhagen: WHO 2008 Coulter, A. et al www.euro.who.int/document/hsm/3_hsc08__ePB_6.pdf 
			 Patients' involvement in decisions about medicines. GPs' perceptions of their preferences. 2007 Cox, K., Britten, N., Hooper, R. and White, P. British Journal of General Practise 57: 777784 
			 Our Choices in Mental Health 2006 CSIP www.parliament.uk/deposits/depositedpapers/2009/DEP2009-0074.pdf 
			 Audit of Acute Maternity Services 2006 Department of Health  
			 Building on the Best: Choice, Responsiveness and Equity in the NHS 2003 Department of Health www.dh.gov.uk/en/Consultations/Responsestoconsultations/DH_4068391 
			 Choice Matters. Working with libraries 2008 Department of Health www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_083956 
			 Maternity Matters: Choice, access and continuity of care in a safe service 2007 Department of Health www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_073312 
			 Long Term Conditions Personal Care Plan Impact Assessment 2009 DH http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsLegistation/DH_095647 
			 Patient choice: What does 'choice' mean to people with diabetes? 2005 Diabetes UK http://www.diabetes.org.uk/en/Professionals/lnformation_resources/Reports/Patient_choice/ 
			 Is greater choice consistent with equity. The case of the English NHS. 2006 Dixon, A. and Le Grand, J. Journal of Health Services and Policy 11: 162-166 
			 Patient choice in general practice: the implications of patient satisfaction surveys 2008 Dixon, A. et al Journal of Health Services and Policy 13: 67-72 
			 Patients choosing their healthcare 2005 Dr. Foster www.drfoster.co.uk/patientchoice/pdf/Patient_Choice_Workbook.pdf 
			 Patient Choice and the Organisation and Delivery of Health Services: Scoping Review 2005 Fotaki M. et al  
			 What benefits will choice bring to patients? Literature review and assessment of implications. 2008 Fotaki, M. et al Journal of Health Services and Policy 13(3): 178-184 
			 A bed too far. The implementation of freedom of choice policy in the NHS. 2008 Garcia-Lacalle, J. Health Policy 87: 31-40 
			 Home or Hospital? Choices at the end of life. 2004 Gomes, B. and Higginson, I. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine 97(9): 413-414 
			 National survey of local health services 2008 2008 Healthcare Commission http://www.healthcarecommission.org.uk/_db/_documents/PCT08_Comparative_tables_v4_1-24-07-08_-_backup.pdf 
			 Does Publicising Hospital Performance Stimulate Quality Improvement Efforts? 2003 Hibbard, J. et al Health Affairs, vol 22, no 2 
			 Priorities and Preferences for End of Life Care in England, Wales and Scotland 2003 Higginson I.J. National Council for Hospice and Specialist Palliative Care Services  
			 NHS Reforms Workshops 2006 Ipsos-MORI  
			 Choice in Mental Health Care 2006 King's Fund and SCMH www.scmh.org.uk/pdfs/briefing31_choice_in_mental_health_care.pdf 
			 Improving Choice at end of life 2008 King's Fund http://www.kingsfund.org.u/research/publications/improving_choice_at.html 
			 LSE Depression Report 2006 LSECEP cep.lse.ac.uk/textonly/research/mentalhealth/depression_report_layard.pdf 
			 Choice and Contestability in primary care 2004 Maclean (2004) Social Market Foundation Health Commission http://smf.smf.co.uk/choice-and-contestability-in-primary-care.html 
			 Liverpool Care Pathway: Promoting best practice for care of the dying 2006 Marie Curie http://www.lcp-mariecurie.org.uk/ 
			 Valuing ChoiceDying at home 2004 Marie Curie campaign.mariecurie.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/646C31D0-49C1-42C5-8BFE-D1A8F3F3A499/0/campaign_valuing_choice.pdf 
			 British Social Attitudes: the 22nd report. Two terms of New Labour the Public's reaction 2005 Natcen http://www.natcen.ac.uk/natcen/pages/op_socialattitudes.htm#bsa 
			 End of Life Care 2008 National Audit Office http://www.nao.org.uk/publications/0708/end_of_life_care.aspx 
			 The NHS Cancer Plan and the New NHS: Providing a Patient-Centred Service 2004 NHS  
			 Impact of patients' socioeconomic status on the distance travelled for hospital admission in the English National Health Service 2007 Propper, C. et al Journal of Health Services Research, vol 12, No 3. The Royal Society of Medicine Press: London 
			 Does competition between Hospitals Improve the Quality of Care? Hospital Death Rates and the NHS Internal Market. University of Bristol, CEPR and CMPO 2007 Propper, C. et al Ideas.repec.org/a/eee/pubeco/v88y2004i7-8p1247-1272.html 
			 The costs of alternative types of routine antenatal care for low-risk women: shared care vs. care by general practitioners and community midwives 1996 Ratcliffe J., Ryan M.,  Tucker J. J Health Serv Res Policy 1(3): 135-40 
			 Patient choice 2008 Robertson, R. and  Thorlby, R. www.kingsfund.org.uk/document.rm?id=7356 
			 Patient Choice in general practice: the implications of patient satisfaction surveys 2008 Robertson, R. Dixon, A. Le Grand, J. (2008) Journal of Health Services Research Policy 13(2): 67-72 
			 The anatomy of GP referral decisions: A qualitative study of GP views on their role in supporting patient choice 2006 Rosen, R., Florin, D. and Hutt, R. www.kingsfund.org.uk/publications/the_kings_fund_publications/an_anatomy_of_gp.html 
			 Randomised Controlled Trial Comparing Hospital at Home with Inpatient Hospital Care. II: Cost Minimisation Analysis 1998 Shepperd S., Harwood D., Gray A. Vessey M.  Morgan P. BMJ 316: 1791-1796 
			 Economic analysis of two models of low risk maternity care: a freestanding birth centre compared to traditional care 2000 Stone P.W., Zwangziger J., Hinton P.H., Buenting J. Res Nurs Health 23: 279-89 
			 Implications of offering Patient Choice for routine adult surgical referrals 2004 Taylor R./Dr. Foster Ltd./University of Nottingham  
			 An Overview of the Literature on Palliative Care in Primary Care 2003 (Taken from chapter 5 in 'Caring for the Dying at Home: Companions on the Journey by Thomas K. (2003)) http://www.goldstandardsframework.nhs.uk/content/guides_and_presentations/Evidence_base.pdf_ 
			 Free choice at the point of referral 2008 Thorlby, R. and Gregory, S. www.kingsfund.org.uk/document.rm?id=7526 
			 Choice and Equity. PCT Survey. 2007 Thorlby, R. and Turner,  P. Kings Fund http://www.kingsfund.org.uk/404.rm?doclink=truedestination_id=6915referer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Elibrary%2Enhs% 2Euk%2Fhealthmanagement%2FViewResource%2Easpx%3FreslD%3D260851 
			 Patient reactions to hospital choice in Norway, Denmark, and Sweden 2007 Vrangbaek, K. et al Health Economics, Policy and Law, Vol. 2, pp: 125-152 
			 Exploring cost and quality: Community based versus traditional hospital delivery 1996 Walker, P., Stone, P. J Health Care Finance 23:23-41 
			 Improving Supportive and Palliative Care for Adults with Cancer. Economic Review. 2004 Ward S., Salzano S., Sampson F., Cowan J./NICE  
			 NHS Messaging: Attitudes of NHS staff 2004 Wardle McLean  
			 Choice literature review 2006 Warner et al. / Kings Fund and SCMH  
			 Palliative Care: The Solid Facts 2004 World Health Organisation Europe (edited by Davies, E. and Higginson, I.J.) http://www.euro.who.int/lnformationSources/Publications/Catalogue/20050118_2 
			 The costs to the NHS of maternity care: midwife-managed vs. shared 1997 Young, D., Lees, A., Twaddle, S. Br J Midwifery 5(8): 465-71 
			 The lure of patient choice 2007 Bryant, L.D., Bown, N., Bekker, H.L., and House, A. British Journal of General Practice 57: 822-826 
		
	
	(1) http://www.lshtm.ac.uk/hsru/hrep/publications/index.htm
	(2) http://www.natcen.ac.uk/bsa/

Performing Arts

John Mason: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department has engaged any  (a) actors,  (b) musicians and  (c) other performers to support its initiatives over the last five years.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department has engaged actors, musicians and other performers for advertising and publicity activities (for example, public health campaigns) and for staff learning and development activities (for example, to conduct role plays during training courses).
	It is not possible to provide the information in the format requested. The information that is available is included in the following table.
	
		
			  Public Health Campaigns 2008-09 
			  Campaign  Date  Size  Overall campaign cost in 2008-09  Celebrity/used? What for? 
			 Change4Life 2008-09 Television/poster/print ads/media partners/online/leaflets 25 million No(1) 
			 Know Your Units (part of Know Your Limits) 2008-09 Television/poster/print ads/online 7million No 
			 FRANK 2008-09 Television/poster/print/radio/online 6.5 million(2) No 
			 HPV vaccine 2008-09 Television/radio/posters/print/online 4 million No 
			 Condom Essential Wear 2008-09 Advertising (television, cinema, radio, print, ambient and online), PR, partnership activity, stakeholder engagement, other digital activity, research and distribution of campaign materials. 5.2 million No 
			 5 A Day What Counts 2008-09 Posters/print/online 500,000 Melinda Messenger. As well as taking part in the video with 5 A DAY case study mums, she also took part in a photoshoot with press photographers. She gave many interviews with the media and provided quotations, comments and top tips for use in the media in support of the 5 A DAY campaign. 
			 Breastfeeding Breast Buddy 2008-09 Posters/print/online 1 million Jenny Frost (a new mum) was used to promote breastfeeding. She did personal appearances and interviews. 
			 Smokefree (tobacco) 2008-09 Television/posters/print/radio/online/media partnerships/stakeholder activity/helplines/research 43 million MSN created a website which included five video diaries from Gary Lucy, Gemma Bissex and Sian Reeves as they tried to give up. 
			 Catch It Bin It Kill It 21 November 2008 Radio/press/online/ambient ads, plus radio content, and research 1.781 million Donna Air, actress and mother. Helped launch campaign with radio interviews. Presented small video for online use. 
			 Seasonal Flu 3 October 2008 Television/radio/pharmacy bags/online ads plus PR/leaflets/distribution/research 1.9 million No 
			 (1) Professor Tanya Byron has been paid to promote the Change4Life campaign. She is employed as an expert but I have included her in the costs as she may be seen by some as a celebrity. (2) Department of Health and Home Office 
		
	
	Total campaigns cost was 95.9 million.
	Total celebrity costs were 89,384.
	The percentage of campaigns costs spent on celebrities was 0.09 per cent.

Schizophrenia

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of psycho-educational therapies in the treatment of those diagnosed with schizophrenia.

Phil Hope: The National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) published updated clinical guidance on schizophrenia in March, which identifies no new robust evidence for the effectiveness of psycho-education on any critical outcomes. NICE has not, therefore, recommended psycho-education for treating schizophrenia.
	This guidance is available online from NICE at:
	www.nice.org.uk/guidance/CG82/Guidance/pdf/English

Sexually Transmitted Diseases: Prisoners

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many incidents of sexually transmitted infections have been recorded in prisons amongst  (a) men and  (b) women inmates in each of the last five years.

Phil Hope: The Department does not have a complete dataset on the number of sexually transmitted infections among prisoners (male or female) in the last five years. The issue of disaggregating data by prison is currently being explored with the Health Protection Agency.

Sight Impaired: Gloucestershire

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his most recent estimate is of the number of people in  (a) Forest of Dean constituency and  (b) Gloucestershire who (i) have a visual impairment and (ii) are registered blind.

Phil Hope: The information on the number of people in Forest of Dean constituency and Gloucestershire who have a visual impairment and are registered blind is not available in the format requested. Information is only available for councils with social services responsibilities. The number of people registered as blind and partially sighted in Gloucestershire council at 31 March 2008 was 1,530 and 1,885 respectively.

Swine Flu

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps are being taken to ensure that hospitals are able to deal with a swine influenza pandemic;
	(2)  what his latest estimate is of the likelihood of a swine influenza pandemic;
	(3)  what steps his Department has taken to prepare for a possible swine influenza pandemic.

Dawn Primarolo: The Department has already provided a great deal of support to hospitals in the form of guidance and on-going workshops to ensure that contingency and business continuity issues have been thought through in advance of a pandemic and addressed. Model exercises have been provided to support the national health service in raising awareness and testing the robustness of these plans. Each primary care trust also has a designated flu lead to assist organisations with planning across their geographic area.
	We have published guidance on infection control in hospitals and surgeries, and advice to staff treating or caring for patients with flu symptoms. A copy has been placed in the Library. We have also issued guidance to ambulance trusts. A copy of this guidance has already been placed in the Library.
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State stated on 14 May 2009,  Official Report, columns 1059-1095, that the likelihood of the current outbreak developing into a full blown pandemic remains high, but there are still many uncertainties about the virus. That is still the case. Scientists are learning more every day and we are continuing to monitor the situation so that if the virulence or severity of the virus worsens we can react quickly.
	The Department has been planning for a possible influenza pandemic for some time and has robust plans in place. We have enough antiviral stocks to cover 50 per cent. of the population (some 33.5 million courses); we are further increasing the stockpile so that it is enough to cover 80 per cent. of the population (some 50 million courses).
	We also expect flu line, which will be used to assess symptoms and authorise anti-virals for individuals, to be operational by the autumn, thus ensuring we have additional capability to respond to a re-emergence of the virus.
	On 15 May, the Government also announced the signing of agreements with vaccine manufacturers for up to 90 million doses of a pre-pandemic vaccine based on the current H1N1 strain. The agreements could provide enough vaccine to protect the most vulnerable groups in our population before a pandemic is likely to arrive. In the event of a pandemic, the advanced purchase agreements previously signed with Baxter and GlaxoSmithKline will be activated; these will enable the United Kingdom to purchase enough vaccine to cover 100 per cent. of the UK population.
	In addition, we are increasing our stocks of facemasks, respirators and antibiotics to ensure we have sufficient stocks of countermeasures to tackle a re-emergence of swine influenza later in the year.

Swine Flu

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made on distribution to households of information leaflets on swine influenza to date; when he expects national distribution to be complete; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The distribution of the swine influenza information leaflets to households has been completed for the vast majority of the United Kingdom. We are awaiting confirmation of delivery to a few outstanding areas.

Treatment Centres

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance is issued to primary care trusts on conducting value for money assessments of their contracts with companies running independent sector treatment centres.

Ben Bradshaw: Value for Money tests were conducted during the procurement of all Wave One and Phase Two Independent Sector Treatment Centre (ISTC) contracts.
	Robust contract management also takes place throughout the life of an ISTC contract. All ISTC providers have a contractual obligation to provide key performance indicator information to both the Department and the local national health service. This information is monitored to ensure that contracts are effectively delivered.
	The Department has not issued guidance to primary care trusts in England on conducting value for money assessments of their contracts with companies running ISTC.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Brass Bands: Finance

Jeff Ennis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much Arts Council England awarded in grants to brass bands in each of the last five years.

Barbara Follett: Arts Council England have advised that they have awarded grants to brass bands in each of the last five years as follows:
	
		
			   
			   Grants for the arts  Regularly funded organisations  Total 
			 2004-05 139,479 31,115 170,594 
			 2005-06 95,901 31,642 132,358 
			 2006-07 89,300 22,240 116,470 
			 2007-08 24,362 22,850 49,612 
			 2008-09 116,908 23,467 140,375

Dance: Education

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress his Department has made towards establishing six new Centres of Advanced Training for dance.

Barbara Follett: Government responsibility for Centres for Advanced Training (CATs) in dance falls to the Department for Children, Schools and Families, who advise that the Department's Dance Scheme currently supports seven CATs in dance with two more centres coming on stream during school year 2009-10. There will then be dance CATs serving every region of the country, with CATs in the south-east and south-west also establishing satellite centres to enable even more young people to benefit from the training on offer.

Film: EU Grants and Loans

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which EU grant programmes provide funding for the EU film industry.

Barbara Follett: MEDIA 2007 is the European Commission's funding programme to support the European audiovisual industries, which runs from 2007-13.

Gyms: Elderly

William Cash: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make it his policy to provide free gym access for those over the age of 60 years.

Andy Burnham: holding answer 15 May 2009
	The Government have no present plan to extend the Free Swimming Programme to provide free gym access for those over the age of 60 years. Around 10 million people aged 60 or over in England stand to benefit from the Government's Free Swimming Programme. We will be monitoring closely the impact of the scheme on levels of participation.

Internet

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent estimate he has made of the number of households which have access to  (a) the internet and  (b) digital television.

Andy Burnham: The information requested is as follows.
	 (a) There is narrowband internet available to all of the UK. The Universal Service Obligation means that a fixed line is available to every UK household. Total Internet take up is at 65 per cent. of UK households.
	 (b) At present, 80 per cent. of UK households have access to digital terrestrial television. When switchover is complete it will be 98.5 per cent.
	Digital satellite coverage is 98 per cent. Virgin Media states that 49 per cent. of households in the UK were able to get cable services at the end of 2007.

Mass Media: Economic Situation

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with Ministerial colleagues on measures to mitigate the effects on local economies of job losses in the newspaper and broadcast media sectors.

Andy Burnham: Government are aware of the intense challenges facing local news providers and I held a summit with key stakeholders on 28 April to discuss the key issues. I now aim to build on that discussion working with other relevant ministerial colleagues.

National Lottery: Southend-on-Sea

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much unclaimed National Lottery winnings there are  (a) in total and  (b) arising from tickets sold in Southend-on-Sea; and how unclaimed money is managed.

Barbara Follett: From the launch of the National Lottery in 1994 to 9 May 2009, unclaimed prizes total 1,078 million.
	The National Lottery operator, Camelot, does not keep records of the total value of unclaimed prizes based on constituency, district, county or postcode areas. However, Camelot does hold records of all unclaimed prizes with a value of over 50,000. To date there has been one such unclaimed prize in the Southend-on-Sea area.
	Unclaimed prizes are paid to the good causes 180 days after the relevant draw, the end of the relevant Scratchcard game or the date on which the Interactive Instant Win Game was played.
	During the 180 day period the unclaimed prizes are held in Player Trust Accounts. During this time Camelot is required to make every effort to publicise larger unclaimed prizes in the area where the ticket was purchased in order to encourage winners to come forward.

Olympic Games 2012

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the merits of changing the name of the Olympics team from Team GB to one that encompasses all of the United Kingdom.

Andy Burnham: Responsibility for Team GB, including the name itself, rests with the British Olympic Association (BOA). The BOA is independent of Government.

VisitBritain

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much it cost to produce VisitBritain's framework review document.

Barbara Follett: VisitBritain have advised that the total cost of the British Tourism Framework Review was 350,316.85. Of this 187,126 was for primary, newly commissioned research for the benefit of the whole UK tourism industry, which is free and publicly available on the VisitBritain website.
	The remaining costs were for extensive national consultation meetings which took place throughout Britain; the dissemination, publishing and associated production costs of the final review and supporting reports; and for consultancy and project management.

VisitIreland

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether his Department has provided funding to VisitIreland for 2009-10.

Barbara Follett: DCMS does not provide funding to VisitIreland.
	VisitBritain who receive grant in aid from DCMS will be sponsoring the Northern Ireland Tourist Board's annual awards at a cost of 5,000.00 plus VAT during the financial year 2009-10.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Alcohol Disorder Zones

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) police services and  (b) local authorities have issued a notice of proposal to designate an alcohol disorder zone in the last two years.

Alan Campbell: To date, the Home Office has not been informed of any proposal to designate an alcohol disorder zone by any police service or local authority, since they were commenced on 5 June 2008.

Alcoholic Drinks: Crime

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions for offences related to drunkenness there have been in each police force area in Wales in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Alan Campbell: The number of persons proceeded against at magistrates courts for offences of drunkenness in Wales, by police force area, from 2003 to 2007 (latest available) is given in table 1.
	A penalty notice for disorder (PND) may be given for certain offences of drunkenness. The number of persons issued with a PND for drunkenness in Wales, by police force area, from 2004 to 2007 (latest available) are given in table 2. The PND scheme was implemented in all 43 police force areas in England and Wales in 2004.
	Data relating to the number of persons found guilty of offences of drunkenness in Wales, and the number cautioned for these offences can also be found at Annex A and B.
	Data for 2008 will be available in the autumn of 2009.
	
		
			  Table 1:  N umber of persons proceeded against at magistrates courts for offences of drunkenness( 1)  in Wales, by police force area, 2003 - 07( 2,3) 
			  Police force area  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 Dyfed-Powys 1,240 1,220 1,100 1,068 1,092 
			 Gwent 1,340 1,410 1,330 1,379 1,425 
			 North Wales 1,834 1,706 1,498 1,516 1,473 
			 South Wales 3,554 3,778 3,633 2,996 2,667 
			 Total 7,968 8,114 7,561 6,959 6,657 
			  Offence class 140, 141, 803 (1) Includes offences under the: Licensing Act 1872 s.12; Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol etc.) Act 1985 ss. 1(4) and 1A(4), 2(2); Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 s.12; Criminal Justice Act 1967 s.91; Licensing Act 1964 s.174; Late Night Refreshment Houses Act 1969 s.9(4); Town Police Clauses Act 1847 s.61; London Hackney Carriage Act 1843 s.28; Merchant Shipping Act 1995 s.101(1)(a)(b), (4) and (5); Licensing Act 1902 s.2; Similar provisions in Local Acts; Road Traffic Act ss.4(1)(2) s.5(1)(a)(b), s.6(4), s.7(6); Road Traffic Act 1988 s.7A as added by Police Reform Act 2002 s.56, Transport and Works Act 1992 s.31A as added by Police Reform Act 2002 s.52.  (2) These data are on the principal offence basis.  (3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.   Source:  Office for Criminal Justice ReformEvidence and Analysis Unit [IOS 222-09]. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2:  N umber of penalty notices for disorder issued for offences of drunkenness( 1)  in Wales, by police force area, from 2004 - 07( 2) 
			   Police force area  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 DA06 Dyfed-Powys 220 418 387 286 
			 DB05 Gwent 151 231 298 212 
			 DB07 North Wales 658 1,244 1,360 1,275 
			  South Wales 107 496 840 370 
			  Total 1,136 2,389 2,885 2,143 
			 (1) Data includes the following offence descriptions and corresponding statutes: Being found drunk in a highway or other public place, whether a building or not, or on licensed premisesLicensing Act 1872, section 12; Being guilty while drunk of disorderly behaviourCriminal Justice Act 1967, section 91; Consuming alcohol in a designated public placeCriminal Justice and Police Act 2001, section 12.  (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.   Source:  Office for Criminal Justice Reform - Evidence and Analysis Unit [IOS 222-09]. 
		
	
	
		
			  Annex A:  N umber of persons found guilty at all courts of offences of drunkenness( 1)  in Wales, by police force area, 2003 - 07( 2,3) 
			   2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 Dyfed-Powys 1,145 1,135 1,018 999 999 
			 Gwent 1,214 1,293 1,189 1,257 1,315 
			 North Wales 1,673 1,579 1,408 1,435 1,425 
			 South Wales 3,264 3,513 3,353 2,814 2,554 
			 Total 7,296 7,520 6,968 6,505 6,293 
			  Offence class 140, 141, 803(1) Includes offences under the: Licensing Act 1872 s.12; Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol etc) Act 1985ss.1(4) 1A(4), 2(2); Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 s.12; Criminal Justice Act 1967 s.91; Licensing Act 1964 s.174; Late Night Refreshment Houses Act 1969 s.9(4); Town Police Clauses Act 1847 s.61; London Hackney Carriage Act 1843 s.28; Merchant Shipping Act 1995 s. 101 (1 )(a)(b), (4)  (5); Licensing Act 1902 s.2; Similar provisions in Local Acts; Road Traffic Act ss.4(1)(2) s.5(1)(a)(b), s.6(4), s.7(6); Road Traffic Act 1988 s.7A as added by Police Reform Act 2002 s.56, Transport and Works Act 1992 S.31A as added by Police Reform Act 2002 s.52.  (2) These data are on the principal offence basis.  (3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.   Source:  Office for Criminal Justice Reform - Evidence  Analysis Unit [IOS 222-09]. 
		
	
	
		
			  Annex B:  N umber of persons cautioned for offences of drunkenness( 1)  in Wales, by police force area, 2003 - 07( 2,3,4) 
			  Police force area  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 Dyfed-Powys 94 107 111 109 119 
			 Gwent 190 29 138 256 366 
			 North Wales 204 168 116 83 81 
			 South Wales 341 505 425 143 74 
			 Total 829 809 790 591 640 
			  Offence class 140, 141, 803(1) Includes offences under the: Licensing Act 1872 s. 12; Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol etc) Act 1985ss.1(4) 1A(4), 2(2); Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 s.12; Criminal Justice Act 1967 s.91; Licensing Act 1964s.174; Late Night Refreshment Houses Act 1969 s.9(4); Town Police Clauses Act 1847 s.61; London Hackney Carriage Act 1843 s.28; Merchant Shipping Act 1995 s.101(1)(a)(b), (4)  (5); Licensing Act 1902 s.2; Similar provisions in Local Acts; Road Traffic Act ss.4(1)(2) s.5(1)(a)(b), s.6(4), s.7(6); Road Traffic Act 1988 s.7A as added by Police Reform Act 2002 s.56, Transport and Works Act 1992 S.31A as added by Police Reform Act 2002 s.52.  (2) The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been cautioned for two or more offences at the same time the principal offence is the more serious offence.  (3) From 1 June 2000 the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 came into force nationally and removed the use of cautions for persons under 18 and replaced them with reprimands and final warnings. These figures have been included in the totals.  (4) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.   Source:  Office for Criminal Justice ReformEvidence and Analysis Unit [IOS 222-09].

Alcoholic Drinks: Crime

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions for offences related to drunkenness there have been in  (a) the London Borough of Bexley and  (b) Greater London in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Alan Campbell: The number of persons proceeded against at magistrates courts for offences of drunkenness in Greater London, which includes the Metropolitan and City of London police force areas from 2003 to 2007 (latest available) is given in table 1.
	A Penalty Notice for Disorder (PND) may be given for certain offences of drunkenness. The number of persons issued with a PND for drunkenness in the Metropolitan and City of London police force areas, from 2004 to 2007 (latest available) are given in table 2. The PND Scheme was implemented in all 43 police force areas in England and Wales in 2004.
	Data relating to the number of persons found guilty and cautioned for offences of drunkenness can be found in annex A and B.
	Information held centrally is not available at local authority area. Data have been given in the tables for the Metropolitan police force area which includes Greater London and in which the London borough of Bexley is located.
	Data for 2008 will be available in the autumn of 2009.
	
		
			  Table 1:  N umber of persons proceeded against at magistrates courts for offences of drunkenness( 1)  in Greater London, 2003 - 07( 2,3,4) 
			2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 Offence class Number proceeded against 15,782 14,737 14,241 14,437 13,527 
			 140   
			 141   
			 803   
			 (1) Includes offences under the: Licensing Act 1872 s.12; Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol etc.) Act 1985 ss.1(4) and 1A(4), 2(2); Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 s.12; Criminal Justice Act 1967 s.91; Licensing Act 1964 s.174; Late Night Refreshment Houses Act 1969 s.9(4); Town Police Clauses Act 1847 s.61; London Hackney Carriage Act 1843 s.28; Merchant Shipping Act 1995 s.101(1)(a)(b), (4) and (5); Licensing Act 1902 s.2; Similar provisions in Local Acts; Road Traffic Act ss.4(1)(2) s.5(1)(a)(b), s.6(4), s.7(6); Road Traffic Act 1988 s.7A as added by Police Reform Act 2002 s.56, Transport and Works Act 1992 s.31A as added by Police Reform Act 2002 s.52. (2) Includes the Metropolitan and City of London police force areas. (3) These data are on the principal offence basis. (4) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  Source: Office for Criminal Justice ReformEvidence and Analysis Unit 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2:  N umber of Penalty Notices for Disorder issued for offences of drunkenness( 1)  in Greater London, from 2004 - 07( 2,3) 
			2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 DA06 Number of PNDs issued 5,469 4,429 4,405 4,369 
			 DB05  
			 DB07  
			 (1) Data include the following offence descriptions and corresponding statutes: Being found drunk in a highway or other public place, whether a building or not, or on licensed premisesLicensing Act 1872, section 12; Being guilty while drunk of disorderly behaviourCriminal Justice Act 1967, section 91. Consuming alcohol in a designated public placeCriminal Justice and Police Act 2001, section 12. (2) Includes the Metropolitan and City of London police force areas. (3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  Source: Office for Criminal Justice ReformEvidence and Analysis Unit 
		
	
	
		
			  Annex A:  N umber of persons found guilty at all courts of offences of drunkenness( 1)  in Greater London, 2003 - 07( 2,3,4) 
			2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 Offence class Number found guilty 13,964 13,257 12,896 13,300 12,560 
			 140   
			 141   
			 803   
			 (1 )Includes offences under the: Licensing Act 1872 s.12; Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol etc.) Act 1985 ss.1(4) and 1A(4), 2(2); Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 s.12; Criminal Justice Act 1967 s.91; Licensing Act 1964 s.174; Late Night Refreshment Houses Act 1969 s.9(4); Town Police Clauses Act 1847 s.61; London Hackney Carriage Act 1843 s.28; Merchant Shipping Act 1995 s.101(1)(a)(b), (4) and (5); Licensing Act 1902 s.2; Similar provisions in Local Acts; Road Traffic Act ss.4(1)(2) s.5(1)(a)(b), s.6(4), s.7(6); Road Traffic Act 1988 s.7A as added by Police Reform Act 2002 s.56, Transport and Works Act 1992 S.31A as added by Police Reform Act 2002 s.52. (2) Includes the Metropolitan and City of London police force areas. (3) These data are on the principal offence basis. (4) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  Source: Office for Criminal Justice ReformEvidence and Analysis Unit 
		
	
	
		
			  Annex B:  N umber of persons cautioned for offences of drunkenness( 1)  in Greater London, 2003 - 07( 2,3,4,5) 
			2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 Offence class Number cautioned 915 545 335 389 533 
			 140   
			 141   
			 803   
			 (1) Includes offences under the: Licensing Act 1872 s.12; Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol etc.) Act 1985 ss.1(4) and 1A(4), 2(2); Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 s.12; Criminal Justice Act 1967 s.91; Licensing Act 1964 s.174; Late Night Refreshment Houses Act 1969 s.9(4); Town Police Clauses Act 1847 s.61; London Hackney Carriage Act 1843 s.28; Merchant Shipping Act 1995s.101(1)(a)(b), (4) and (5); Licensing Act 1902 s.2; Similar provisions in Local Acts; Road Traffic Act ss.4(1)(2) s.5(1)(a)(b), s.6(4), s.7(6); Road Traffic Act 1988 s.7A as added by Police Reform Act 2002 s.56, Transport and Works Act 1992 S.31A as added by Police Reform Act 2002 s.52. (2) Includes the Metropolitan and City of London police force areas. (3) The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been cautioned for two or more offences at the same time the principal offence is the more serious offence. (4) From 1 June 2000 the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 came into force nationally and removed the use of cautions for persons under 18 and replaced them with reprimands and final warnings. These figures have been included in the totals. (5) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  Source: Office for Criminal Justice ReformEvidence and Analysis Unit

Animal (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many licences under the Animal (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 were granted in  (a) 2005,  (b) 2006,  (c) 2007 and  (d) 2008 for research on non-human primates that included water deprivation as a permissible motivational tool; to which species of non-human primates such licences related; and for what reasons such licences are granted.

Alan Campbell: Under the Animal (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, control of fluid intake is used to motivate monkeys so that they will perform extended sequences of behaviour in behavioural neuroscience experiments. The monkeys are trained to perform simple or complex tasks for which small amounts of a fluid, referred to as rewards or reinforcers, are used to motivate the animals and maintain behavioural or cognitive performance. The fluid control may involve limiting the time fluid is available, or may involve reducing the total amount fluid provided per day. Ultimately, thirst and the food reward for continuing the task, becomes a motivator for reliable performance.
	The following table shows the number of licences granted from 2005 to date authorising fluid control procedure under the Animal (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.
	
		
			   Number of licences granted authorising fluid control  Non-human primate species 
			 2005 4 Macaques 
			 2006 0 None 
			 2007 3 Macaques 
			 2008 2 1 Macaque, 1 Marmoset

Animal Experiments: Licensing

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what definition her Department uses of household products in respect of the granting of animal testing licences; and if she will make a statement.

Alan Campbell: holding answer 12 May 2009
	 There is no authoritative definition of the term 'household products' and it is not defined in any national or international legislation. However, in the context of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, regard is paid to the definition of finished household products as set out in the 2002 publication on The Use of Animals in Testing Household Products produced by the Boyd Group, a forum encompassing a wide rage of expertise and perspectives concerned with the use of animals in scientific procedures. All products that are primarily intended for use in the home fall within the sub-category of 'Substances used in the household' and would include such products as detergents and other laundry products, household cleaners, air-fresheners, toilet blocks, polishes, paper products such as infant nappies, paints, glues (and removers), other furnishing and DIY products and household pesticides. The sub-category applies to both finished household products and their ingredients, although in practice mainly the latter are tested.

Animal Experiments: Licensing

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many animal testing licences were granted for the testing of household products in each year since 1997; and if she will make a statement.

Alan Campbell: holding answer 12 May 2009
	Project licences are not granted under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 for the sole purpose of household product testing or the testing of their ingredients. Any such testing is conducted under project licences authorising the regulatory safety testing of a range of materials. The number of procedures conducted for the testing of household products and their ingredients has fallen significantly since 1997 and the number of licences used for this purpose in any particular year is consequently very low.

Animal Experiments: Licensing

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what species of animals have been used in the testing of household products under licences issued by her Department in the last five years; how many animals of each species have been so used; and if she will make a statement.

Alan Campbell: holding answer 12 May 2009
	The number of adult animals used for the first time in scientific procedures on living animals started in Great Britain for toxicology or other safety/efficacy evaluation in relation to substances used in the household, in 2003-07 was:
	2007: one rabbit (1)
	2006: Nil (0)
	2005: 21 mice, 90 rats (111)
	2004: 95 mice, 65 rats, 20 guinea pigs, 12 rabbits, 80 'Any fish species' (272)
	2003: 98 mice, 83 rats, 41 guinea pigs, 12 rabbits, (234).
	The available information is published in Table 9a (previously 10a) in the Department's annual publication Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals Great Britain, copies of which are available from the Library of the House and from the Department's website:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/scientific1.html
	Information relating to procedures started in 2008 is planned to be published in July 2009.
	The justification for the testing of household products or their ingredients is the need for regulatory authorities to have sufficient information to assess the risks to which humans, animals, plants or the environment are exposed (and their efficacy if relevant), as required by national and international legislations, when these products or their ingredients are produced, transported or used.
	Animal tests are authorised when the purpose of the test cannot be achieved by any other reasonably practicable method not entailing the use of protected animals. Account will be taken of physico-chemical properties of the test substance, computer modelling and structure-activity relationships, and results of in-vitro screening if appropriate which will inform the need and type of animal test needed.

Antisocial Behaviour

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent guidance her Department has issued to local authorities on tackling antisocial behaviour.

Alan Campbell: We have provided front-line staff including local authorities with a range of guidance on tackling antisocial behaviour. This has included:
	Updated guidance on the use of existing tools and powers: May 2008;
	Updated guidance on providing support to victims and witnesses of antisocial behaviour: May 2008;
	Guidance on closure of premises associated with persistent disorder or nuisance: December 2008; and
	A guide to reviewing antisocial behaviour orders given to young people: February 2009.
	The ASB telephone ActionLine service and ASB website provide additional support to the public and staff engaged in tackling ASB. We also held regular events to keep practitioners up to speed with the latest practice in using the wide range of ASB tools and powers available to them.

Asylum

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people are awaiting decisions as part of the legacy process; and how long on average those people have been waiting for a decision.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 11 May 2009
	As of 9 January the UK Border Agency had concluded 155,500 older asylum cases. The previous Home Secretary informed Parliament in July 2006 of
	the Immigration and Nationality Directorate's case load of around 400,000 to 450,000 electronic and paper records.
	These include duplicate cases, and cases of individuals who have since died or left the country, or are now EU citizens, therefore it is not possible to provide an accurate assessment of how many cases are awaiting decisions. The chief executive of the UK Border Agency will update the Home Affairs Select Committee on case conclusion progress in the summer.
	To obtain the information requested about average waiting times of legacy cases would involve a detailed examination of individual case records which would incur a disproportionate cost.

Asylum

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average length of time between an application for asylum and a final decision was in each of the last five years.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 11 May 2009
	Data on conclusion performance by year of application are only available from the introduction of end-to-end processing of new asylum applications in April 2006. Prior to that date, performance targets were based on the length of time it took to reach an initial decision on an asylum application, rather than the length of time it took to conclude a case.
	The PSA Delivery Agreement 3, Indicator 2 refers to the reduction in the time to conclusion of asylum application. The measure is to ensure a target percentage of cases should be resolved within six months as per the following:
	35 per cent. by end of April 2007;
	40 per cent. by end of December 2007;
	60 per cent. by end of December 2008;
	75 per cent. by end of December 2009;
	90 per cent. by end of December 2011.
	The method of reporting against the target is based on the performance of the specific monthly cohort of cases reaching six months. Hence all reporting is done against a six months timeframe. A cohort is specified as those new applications received between one and 31 of each month.
	The conclusion measurement requires applications to be granted asylum or some form of leave to remain in the UK, allowed at appeal or removed within 182 days (six months) to be counted as concluded.
	Performance against the targets has been published in National Statistics as follows:
	38 per cent. of new applications received in September 2006 were concluded in six months by the end of by April 2007;
	46 per cent. of new applications received in June 2007 were concluded in six months by the end of December 2007;
	62 per cent. of new applications received in June 2008 were concluded in six months by the end of December 2008.
	Published information is not available in relation to conclusion of applications in timescales other than six months.

Asylum: Finance

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department spent on section 4 support in each of the last 10 years.

Phil Woolas: The costs of this support have been as follows:
	
		
			  Financial year   million 
			 2003-04 4 
			 2004-05 17 
			 2005-06 59 
			 2006-07 71 
			 2007-08 73 
		
	
	No separate records of expenditure under Section 4 were maintained prior to 2003-04.

Asylum: Finance

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what payments the UK Border Agency makes to a single asylum seeker whose application is being processed in  (a) the UK and  (b) France; and what accommodation is provided for asylum seekers whose cases are under consideration in (i) the UK and (ii) France.

Phil Woolas: Not all asylum seekers in the United Kingdom are eligible for asylum support but those who do need support to avoid destitution may be provided with it under section 95 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 until their asylum claim is determined. Support takes the form of subsistence or accommodation or both, as necessary. Accommodation is provided on a no-choice basis in one of the designated areas in which there is a ready supply of accommodation.
	Subsistence rates for single people per week are currently:
	Single parent aged 18 or over42.16
	Single person aged 25 or over42.16
	Single person aged 18 or over, but under 2533.39
	Single person aged 16 or over but under 1836.29 (paid to parent/guardian)
	Single person under 1648.30 (Paid to parent/guardian)
	A woman who is pregnant or who has children under the age of three, is entitled to extra payments.
	The UK Border Agency does not make payments to support asylum seekers in France.

British Nationality

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 19 January 2009,  Official Report, column 1211W, on British nationality, when she will place in the Library a copy of the letter and attachments; what the reasons are for the time taken to place the letter in the Library; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 5 March 2009
	There has been a delay in depositing the letter due to an administrative oversight. It will now be placed in the House of Commons Library.

Crime: Motor Vehicles

Jim Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are being taken to tackle car cloning in London.

Alan Campbell: The Metropolitan police service has a well established and successful Stolen Vehicle Unit, and it has had considerable success working with other partners to tackle vehicle crime, including cloning, in London.
	The Home Office is also committed to supporting the ACPO Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (AVCIS), which has a national role in tackling vehicle crime, including sharing intelligence with forces. It works closely with regionally based police colleagues, including the Metropolitan police, in relation to vehicle crime.
	The efforts that we have made in partnership with police and colleagues in the vehicle insurance, vehicle manufacturing and other areas has proved successful.
	From 1997 to 2007-08 we have seen a reduction of 66 per cent. in vehicle crime.

Crime: Motor Vehicles

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department has taken to reduce the level of vehicle crime in Coventry in the last 12 months.

Alan Campbell: The Government are committed to ensuring that the response to motor vehicle crime is as effective as possible.
	The Home Office is committed to supporting the ACPO Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (AVCIS), based at Ryton on Dunsmore, which has a national role in tackling vehicle crime, including sharing intelligence with forces. It works closely with regionally-based police colleagues in all 43 forces in England and Wales and has strong relationships with other key partners including the Serious Organised Crime Agency and HM Revenue and Customs, as well as partners in the private sector, in relation to vehicle crime.
	There are also local initiatives in Coventry to tackle vehicle crime such as: vehicle decoy operations targeted in crime hot spots; a campaign to target the theft of satellite navigation systems, including covert sting operations and publicity; police community support officers checking vehicles with property left on show and providing advice to shoppers and those working in the city centre; advice to businesses on increasing security on their premises (e.g. CCTV and additional patrols); vouchers for vehicle crook locks distributed to the owners of older vehicles which do not benefit from security within their design; and offender management schemes that target known prolific offenders.
	The efforts that we have made in partnership with police and colleagues in the vehicle insurance, vehicle manufacturing and other areas, has proved successful. From 1997 to 2007-08 we have seen a reduction of 66 per cent. in vehicle crime.

Crime: North Yorkshire

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes  (a) were committed and  (b) resulted in convictions in North Yorkshire in each of the last five years.

Alan Campbell: Information is not available in the form requested as it is not possible to track individual offences through to their outcome at court. The available information relates to the number of offences recorded by the police in North Yorkshire in each financial year. Convictions data are based on the number of offenders and have been provided by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform. These data are published on a calendar year basis and are counts of persons classified by their principal offence. For these reasons the two datasets are not directly comparable.
	Table 1 gives the number of offences recorded by the police in North Yorkshire and table 2 provides data on the number of offenders convicted.
	The data in table 2 are on the principal offence basis. The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offence for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences, the offence selected is the one for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.
	Court proceedings data for 2008 will be available in the autumn of 2009.
	
		
			  Table 1: Offences recorded by the police in North Yorkshire 
			   Number 
			 2003-04 71,473 
			 2004-05 61,615 
			 2005-06 58,850 
			 2006-07 54,526 
			 2007-08 50,265 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: The number of defendants found guilty at all courts for all offences in North Yorkshire police force area, 2003-07( 1,2) 
			   Number 
			 2003 13,746 
			 2004 15,010 
			 2005 12,841 
			 2006 14,629 
			 2007 15,049 
			 (1) The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.

Crime: Statistics

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what data on crime at lower layer super output area level her Department collects.

Alan Campbell: The Home Office's British crime survey (BCS) is a representative survey of households resident in England and Wales designed to collect information on crimes experienced in the last year. The BCS is an address-based sample but information collected is not reported below police force area level as the sample is too small to provide reliable estimates at lower geographical levels.
	To protect the confidentiality of respondents personal details, such as address and postcode, are not supplied to the Home Office by the survey contractor.
	The Home Office also collects information on crimes recorded by the police.
	Experimental statistics based on a special collection from some police forces has been published at middle super output area level. The most recent data currently published are for 2005-06 and can be found on the Neighbourhood Statistics website at:
	http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk
	In future, the Home Office data hub will receive individual crime records from police forces in England and Wales. The system is currently being tested and test data extracts have been received from 28 forces. It is planned that the system will be fully operational by the end of the financial year 2010-11. Assessments of the quality of these data will need to be made but the current intention is to publish data at middle super output area level where possible, subject to quality issues and adherence to protocols for official statistics.

Crimes of Violence: Coventry

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department has taken to reduce the level of violent crime in Coventry in the last 12 months.

Alan Campbell: The Government nationally have been over the last 12 months implementing a wide ranging programme as set out in the Tackling Violence Action Plan published in February 2008. We are reviewing and refreshing that plan particularly to focus on the key priorities of serious youth violence and violence against women.
	Examples of steps taken in Coventry include:
	Coventry was allocated 335,669 basic command unit funding for 2008-09 which is to help deliver crime and disorder reduction locally, promote partnership working, and to assist in the delivery of the objectives set out in the Government's Public Service Agreements for 2008 to 2011.
	Coventry Community Safety Partnership received funding of 81,540 to support a tackling violent crime programme designed to reduce violent crime and fear of crime and increase public confidence. A range of tactical interventions were deployed over the Christmas 2008 period, which achieved a 4.9 per cent. reduction in overall crime, against an anticipated 2 per cent. reduction target.
	Coventry has been designated as an alcohol priority area and is receiving funding from the Home Office for enforcement and a communications campaign.
	Work is also ongoing to strengthen Coventry's multi-agency approach to licensing enforcement.
	Coventry's health services produce fortnightly data which are then sent to the police and other partners through the partnerships' Active Intelligence Mapping arrangements, which enables regular and appropriate deployment of operational resources.
	Funding has been provided to assist with the expansion and development of the Coventry Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre, set up to provide services to women (and their children) who have suffered from rape and sexual abuse.

Crimes of Violence: Females

Lynda Waltho: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions she has had with  (a) the Secretary of State for Health and  (b) the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills on their Departments' contributions to (i) her Department's consultation on Together We Can End Violence Against Women and Girls and (ii) her Department's forthcoming national strategy on Violence Against Women and Girls.

Alan Campbell: The Home Secretary has had regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues about Government action on VAWG and has written to the Ministerial Committee on Domestic Affairs twice regarding the cross-Government consultation on ending violence against women and girls.

Departmental Data Protection

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many private contractors have been granted access to personal data held by her Department in the last 12 months; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: The information required is not held centrally, therefore we are unable to provide an answer because of the disproportionate cost threshold.

Departmental Dismissal

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many members of staff in her Department and its agencies were dismissed  (a) for under-performance and  (b) in total in each of the last 10 years.

Jacqui Smith: The number of staff dismissed  (a) for under-performance and  (b) in total each year within Home Office HQ, the Identity and Passport Service and the Criminal Records Bureau is shown in table 1.
	
		
			  Table 1: Dismissals in Home Office HQ, IPS and CRB( 1) 
			  Year( 2)  Dismissals for under-performance  Total dismissals 
			 1999-2000 0 Less than five 
			 2000-01 0 14 
			 2001-02 0 34 
			 2002-03 0 37 
			 2003-04 0 29 
			 2004-05 0 29 
			 2005-06 Less than five 41 
			 2006-07 0 38 
			 2007-08 Less than five 45 
			 2008-09 Less than five 49 
			 (1) The Criminal Records Bureau did not begin operations until March 2002. (2 )Information prior to 2005-06 is not held centrally within Home Office HQ and could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.  Note: Where fewer than five members of staff were dismissed further information has been withheld on grounds of confidentiality. 
		
	
	The number of staff dismissed within the UK Border Agency for  (a) inefficiency and  (b) in total each year is shown in table 2
	
		
			  Table 2: Dismissals in UKBA( 1) 
			  Year( 2)  Dismissals for inefficiency( 3)  Total dismissals 
			 2005-06 37 69 
			 2006-07 28 68 
			 2007-08 50 100 
			 2008-09 47 93 
			 (1 )Figures exclude staff within UKVisas (previously FCO) and HMRC detection staff who have now transferred to UKBA. (2 )Information prior to 2005-06 is not held centrally and could be provided only at a disproportionate cost. (3 )Dismissals made under the broad category of inefficiency include dismissals made under poor performance and attendance management procedure; 
		
	
	UKBA figures contained in the first column of table 2 include all staff dismissed under the broad category of inefficiency, which includes dismissal for under-performance and dismissal under attendance management procedures. A further breakdown of those dismissals into those dismissed for under-performance could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.
	UKBA figures exclude staff in UK Visas (previously under the Foreign and Commonwealth Office) and HM Revenue and Customs Detection staff who have now transferred to UKBA. These staff will be added to UKBA HR systems during 2009-10 as part of an ongoing improvement programme.

Departmental Official Hospitality

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department has spent on  (a) conference services and  (b) banqueting services in each of the last five years.

Phil Woolas: The requested information is set out in the table.
	
		
			   Conference costs () 
			 2004-05 5,189,640 
			 2005-06 10,594,000 
			 2006-07 9,325,652 
			 2007-08 4,020,987 
			 2008-09 5,844,000 
		
	
	The cost of banqueting services cannot be obtained without incurring disproportionate cost.
	All expenditure on conference services is incurred in accordance with the principles of Managing Public Money and the Treasury handbook on Regularity and Propriety.

Departmental Opinion Polls

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on which subjects her Department has commissioned opinion polling in each of the last two years; and at what cost.

Phil Woolas: During the last three financial years (2006-07, 2007-08 and 2008-09) the Home Office (excluding Executive Agencies) has commissioned public opinion polling on attitudes, experiences and awareness of a broad range of crime, policing, immigration, asylum and counter-terrorism issues. Details and cost for each financial year are shown in the following table.
	Details and cost for each financial year(1) are shown in table 1.
	
		
			  Table 1 
			  Financial year  Opinion polling subject areas  Cost (exc luding VAT ( ) 
			 2006-07 Omnibus polling on attitudes, experiences and awareness of a broad range of crime, policing, immigration and asylum issues. 60,575 
			 2007-08 Omnibus polling on attitudes, experiences and awareness of a broad range of crime, policing, immigration and asylum issues. 91,325 
			 2008-09 Omnibus polling on attitudes, experiences and awareness of a broad range of crime, policing, immigration and asylum, counter-terrorism and security issues 212,830 
		
	
	(1) These costs supersede those provided in a previous parliamentary question, where costs years 2006-07 and 2007-08 appeared incorrectly due to an administrative error.

Departmental Procurement

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department from which companies her Department purchased goods and services at a cost of more than 1 million in 2008-09; and how much was spent in respect of each company.

Phil Woolas: For the period April to December 2008, the Home Office, which includes the Identity and Passport Service and the Criminal Records Bureau spent more than 1 million with 73 suppliers from our total supplier list. The actual spend by each supplier is commercially sensitive and restricted and this detail cannot be provided.
	The companies from which the Department with its agencies purchased goods and services to a value greater than 1 million were as follows:
	 Home Office
	3M Co.
	Alpine Resourcing Ltd.
	Angel Group Ltd.
	ASE Consulting Ltd.
	Atkins (WS) plc.
	Atos Origin
	Beachcroft Wansboroughs
	British Telecommunications AS
	Cable and Wireless
	Capita Business Services Ltd.
	Capita Resourcing Ltd.
	Carlson Wagonlit Travel
	Computer People Ltd.
	Computercenter HQ
	Cozart Ltd.
	Cripps Harries Hall LLP
	Deloitte and Touche USA LLP
	Deloitte MCS Ltd.
	Detica Group plc.
	Drivers Jonas Services Co.
	DTZ Holdings plc.
	Eamus Cork Solutions
	EDF Electricite De France SA
	Elan Computing Ltd.
	Electra Partners Group Ltd.
	Equifax plc.
	Ernst and Young LLP
	Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP
	First Option Hotel Reservation
	Fujitsu Services (Finance) Ltd.
	Group 4 Securicor plc.
	Harry Weeks Executive Travel
	Hays Executive
	Interquest Group plc.
	Iron Mountain Incorporated
	KPMG N.V.
	Logicacmg plc.
	Manpower Inc.
	Mapeley Abi Provider Ltd.
	Methods Holdings Ltd.
	MM Teleperformance
	Morse plc.
	MPS Group, Inc.
	Ncipher Corporation Ltd.
	PA Consulting Group
	PA Holdings Ltd.
	Parity Group plc.
	Parity Resources
	Prestige Network Ltd.
	Prudential Property Investment
	Qinetiq Group plc.
	R R Donnelley Print and Media
	Raytheon Co.
	Remploy Ltd.
	Safran
	Savvis, Inc.
	Secure Mail Services Ltd.
	Security Printing Systems Ltd.
	Siemens AG
	Siemens Business Services Ltd.
	Sodexho Alliance SA
	Specialist Computer Holdings plc.
	Spring Technology
	Tac Tps Ltd.
	Thales
	The Geo Group UK Ltd.
	Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.
	Tribal Group plc.
	VCCP Ltd.
	Vedior N.V.
	WH 101 Old Hall Street Ltd.
	Workman and Partner
	WPP Group plc.

Departmental Recruitment

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether  (a) UK citizens born in the UK,  (b) UK citizens born abroad and  (c) foreign nationals recruited to her Department and its agencies are subject to (i) UK and (ii) overseas criminal record checks; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: All staff recruited to the Home Office and its agencies (the UK Border Agency, Identity and Passport Service and Criminal Records Bureau) undergo either pre-employment checks or national security vetting. These all include a check of UK criminal records.
	Those who require security clearance for a particular post may be asked to provide a police certificate from a foreign country.

Departmental Reviews

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) review and  (b) taskforce projects her Department has commissioned in each of the last five years; what the purpose of each such project is; when each such project (i) began and (ii) was completed; what the cost of each such project was; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: Summary information on taskforces and other standing bodies is available in the annual Cabinet Office publication 'Public Bodies'. Copies of Public Bodies 2008 are available in the Libraries of the House. Detailed information on Home Office public bodies is available at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/public-bodies-list-08
	Information about reviews commissioned in the last five years is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Sick Leave

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many days sick leave were taken on average by staff of  (a) the UK Border Agency and  (b) the Identity and Passport Service in 2008.

Phil Woolas: Average number of days of sick leave taken by a member of staff in 2008 are as follows:
	UKBA: 10.41 days per full-time employee
	IPS: 10.50 days per full-time employee
	The answer relates to paid sick leave only.

Departmental Training

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department has spent on IT training for its staff in each of the last five years.

Phil Woolas: The requested information cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.

Deportation

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many people have been deported to  (a) Pakistan,  (b) Afghanistan and  (c) India in each of the last five years; and how many such persons were deported on the grounds of national security;
	(2)  how many people were deported to Pakistan on each ground for deportation in 2008.

Phil Woolas: The UK Border Agency is committed to ensuring that we remove those foreign nationals who pose a risk of harm to our society. It has been made clear that all those who commit crimes within the United Kingdom and meet the published criteria will be considered for deportation action.
	Over the past five years the UK Border Agency has deported or removed over 15,000 foreign criminals from the UK, including a record 5,395 in 2008. A detailed breakdown of where those individuals were removed to is not collated centrally and can be obtained only through the detailed examination of individual case files at disproportionate cost.
	During the same period, nine people have been deported on grounds of national security. None of that group was deported to one of the three countries named.
	The chief executive of the UK Border Agency has regularly written to the Home Affairs Select Committee in order to provide all of the most robust and accurate information available on the deportation of foreign criminals, copies of which are available in the Library of the House. She will continue to write to the Committee as required.

Deportation: Offenders

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many foreign national prisoners repatriated to their country of origin under the reintegration scheme have since been returned to the UK following reconviction.

Phil Woolas: Those foreign national prisoners who are removed under the Facilitated Returns Scheme are issued with an exclusion order preventing them from re-entering the UK. Those who are subject to a deportation order and have not benefited from the scheme are also prevented from re-entering the UK. There is no basis upon which a foreign government may return one of their nationals to the UK if that individual re-offends in their country.
	The UK Border Agency deported or removed a record 5,400 foreign national prisoners in 2008, exceeding the Government set target. As confirmed in its 2008-09 Business Plan the Agency will continue to deport or remove even more.

Deportation: Private Sector

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many contracts her Department has with private contractors for escorted deportations.

Phil Woolas: The UK Border Agency has three contracts with private suppliers to escort individuals removed from the United Kingdom.

Detention Centres: Internet

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the cost of providing internet access to inmates of all immigration removal centres; and when she expects this work to be completed.

Jacqui Smith: Internet access is available to individuals detained at the eight Immigration Removal Centres which are operated by private sector contractors. Use of the internet is supervised by on-site staff, supported by software-based technology to prevent access to certain inappropriate sites.
	The cost of internet access has been agreed with individual contractors operating each immigration removal centre. This information is commercially confidential and is not therefore available to be disclosed publicly.

DNA: Databases

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many foreign nationals of each nationality were listed on the national DNA database on 1 April 2009.

Alan Campbell: The National DNA Database (NDNAD) stores the absolute minimum amount of personal data, and does not store the nationality or the home addresses of subject profiles. Therefore we are unable to determine how many foreign nationals are on the NDNAD.

DNA: Databases

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people aged  (a) under 10,  (b) 10 to 17,  (c) 18 to 20 and  (d) over 20 years old in each ethnic appearance category were registered on the national DNA database in each of the last five years; and how many of these had no conviction, caution, formal warning or reprimand recorded on the police national computer.

Jacqui Smith: The following tables show how many profiles were added to the NDNAD by police forces in England and Wales in each of the last five years, broken down by age and ethnic appearance. The age groups refer to an individual's age on the date that their profile was loaded to the NDNAD, not their current age. The ethnic appearance categories refer to the ethnic appearance recorded by the police officer who took the sample. Unknown means that no age/ethnic appearance was recorded by the officer who took the sample.
	In accordance with my announcement on 16 December 2008, all profiles of under 10s have now been deleted from the NDNAD.
	The number of profiles is not the same as the number of individuals. This is because some profiles are replicatesi.e. more than one profile is held for one individual. This may occur if, for example, an individual gives different names, or different versions of their name, on separate arrests. The most recent estimate of the replication rate on the NDNAD is 13.5 per cent.
	It is not possible to break the information in the tables down further into the number of people in each category who had no conviction, caution, formal warning or reprimand recorded on the Police National Computer (PNC). The NDNAD does not hold information on whether an individual has a conviction.
	
		
			  Breakdown of profiles added to the NDNAD by England and Wales police forces in each of the last five years, broken down by age and ethnic appearance 
			  2004-05 
			   Unknown  Asian  Black  Chinese, Japanese or SE Asian  Middle Eastern  White North European  White South European 
			 Under 10 9 0 1 0 0 0 0 
			 10 to 17 5,367 4,448 8,177 296 389 93,229 1,429 
			 18 to 20 3,854 3,544 3,997 344 649 46,246 904 
			 Over 20 31,781 17,332 22,513 2,679 3,185 223,952 5,995 
			 Unknown 0 2 5 0 4 6 0 
			 Total 41,011 25,326 34,693 3,319 4,227 363,433 8,328 
		
	
	
		
			  2005-06 
			   Unknown  Asian  Black  Chinese, Japanese or SE Asian  Middle Eastern  White North European  White South European 
			 Under 10 5 0 2 0 0 12 0 
			 10 to 17 8,736 5,830 11,392 375 589 116,343 1,769 
			 18 to 20 6,845 4,684 6,490 431 671 57,912 1,241 
			 Over 20 47,318 24,395 32,926 4,076 4,071 281,887 7,791 
			 Unknown 10 22 6 1 11 9 7 
			 Total 62,914 34,931 50,816 4,883 5,342 456,163 10,808 
		
	
	
		
			  2006-07 
			   Unknown  Asian  Black  Chinese, Japanese or SE Asian  Middle Eastern  White North European  White South European 
			 Under 10 8 0 2 0 0 22 0 
			 10 to 17 9,754 6,982 12,951 423 651 116,928 2,091 
			 18 to 20 6,510 5,060 7,038 510 616 59,576 1,343 
			 Over 20 46,609 30,377 39,629 4,871 4,531 302,164 9,060 
			 Unknown 7 13 2 0 9 15 5 
			 Total 62,888 42,432 59,622 5,804 5,807 478,705 12,499 
		
	
	
		
			  2007-08 
			   Unknown  Asian  Black  Chinese, Japanese or SE Asian  Middle Eastern  White North European  White South European 
			 Under 10 8 0 2 0 0 21 2 
			 10 to 17 5,267 6,132 9,441 475 744 98,179 1,695 
			 18 to 20 3,173 4,091 4,276 459 560 51,004 1,161 
			 Over 20 22,102 27,369 27,367 4,723 3,798 261,987 7,821 
			 Unknown 8 18 4 3 13 11 7 
			 Total 30,558 37,610 41,090 5,660 5,115 411,202 10,686 
		
	
	
		
			  2008-09 
			   Unknown  Asian  Black  Chinese, Japanese or SE Asian  Middle Eastern  White North European  White South European 
			 Under 10 5 6 8 0 1 36 0 
			 10 to 17 2,803 6,079 9,254 486 1,072 79,862 1,888 
			 18 to 20 1,646 4,094 4,520 532 718 47,890 1,429 
			 Over 20 10,677 29,625 30,080 5,299 4,717 262,543 10,360 
			 Unknown 10 40 5 3 24 19 3 
			 Total 15,141 39,844 43,867 6,320 6,532 390,350 13,680

Domestic Violence: Immigrants

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will assess the quality of provision of support and assistance given by local authorities to women with no recourse to public funds who have been victims of  (a) domestic and  (b) sexual violence.

Alan Campbell: We would advise that the provision of local services for women who have no recourse to public funds and have been victims of domestic and sexual violence, must be determined locally, based on local need and priorities.
	The Home office and UK Border Agency will shortly be launching a national scheme to assist victims of domestic violence who have no recourse to public funds if their application for indefinite leave to remain under the domestic violence rule is successful.

Domestic Violence: Victim Support Schemes

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department is taking to ensure sustainable funding in the future for voluntary organisations working to assist women subject to domestic violence.

Alan Campbell: The Home Office is part of a cross-Government working group led by the Government Equalities Office. The aim of this group is to develop a long-term sustainable cross-Government engagement strategy with the Violence Against Women (VAW) third sector. The work of this Group is situated quite clearly within the context of the Home Office's consultation and following strategy on VAW.

Driving Offences: Licensing

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many charges for unlicensed vehicle offences have been brought based on evidence from speed cameras in each year since 1997.

Alan Campbell: Data on court proceedings for all motoring offences are given in Chapter 5, Criminal Statistics, England and Wales, 2007, available on the Ministry of Justice website at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/documents/crim-stats-2007-tag.pdf
	Data are not collected centrally on charges.

Drugs: Crime

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department is taking to reduce the supply of Class B drugs.

Alan Campbell: The illegal supply of Class B drugs is a serious matter. Trafficking in controlled drugs of all classes needs to be tackled robustly in order to reduce the harm drugs cause to communities and the organised criminality associated with their supply.
	The Government's strategy is to bear down on all points in the drugs supply chain in order to disrupt criminal gangs, stifle drug supply and reduce the harm caused to communities in the UK. Increasing quantities of drugs are being seized and organised crime groups and dealers disrupted.
	The latest figures published show that in 2007-08, there were 8,671 seizures of Class B drugs by the police and HMRC in England and Wales, up 4 per cent. from the 8,304 seizures the previous year. The majority of the Class B seizures in 2007-08 were amphetamines, with 8,412 in 2007-08, an increase of 5 per cent. from the previous year.
	It is right that the police should prioritise action to tackle the offences which cause the most harm. For this reason, operational activity tends to focus on Class A drugs, particularly the supply of heroin and cocaine. Where Class B drugs pose a threat within a community, these will become a focus of police activity.

Drugs: Misuse

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what financial interests  (a) the Chairman and  (b) each member of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs and its technical committee have declared.

Alan Campbell: The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) will publish a register of interests of all council members on their website the week commencing 1 June. The register will include the interests of the chairman.

Drugs: Misuse

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her estimate is of the number of people who have used khat in each of the last 10 years.

Alan Campbell: No annual estimates are currently made of the number of people who have used khat.
	The Home Office is planning to add questions to the British Crime Survey (BCS) from October 2009 to ask respondents about self-reported use of khat ever, in the last year and in the last month.

Drugs: Misuse

Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of research commissioned by her Department on the individual and social effects of the use of khat in the UK.

Alan Campbell: In March 2005, the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) was asked by the Home Office to assess the extent of the harm posed by khat use in the UK based on the evidence available at that time. The ACMD recommended khat not be controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act but it continues to monitor the situation in relation to khat through its technical committee.
	The Government's 2008 Drug Strategy Action Plan set out the intention to consider further the social harms created by khat use and to improve our understanding of the needs of khat users and their families.
	In light of the commitments, the Home Office has commissioned a research project to examine the social harms associated with khat use and to explore the level and availability of treatment service provision for khat users and their families and will be considering the issue of classification.

Drugs: Misuse

Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions officials of her Department have had with representatives of community organisations on the use of khat in the UK.

Alan Campbell: Representatives of communities in which khat is used have met both the Home Secretary and other Home Office Ministers, with officials present. Pursuant to the commitment in the Government's 2008 Drug Strategy Action, research that has been commissioned by the Home Office to examine the social harms associated with khat use will comprise a number of focus groups with members of the Somali, Yemeni, and Ethiopian communities. These groups will explore perceptions of the social harms associated with khat use.

Entry Clearances

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for an EEA Permanent Residence Card were undetermined at the latest date for which figures are available.

Phil Woolas: As of 6 May 2009 the number of applications for an EEA Permanent Residence Card which were undetermined was 6,290.

Entry Clearances

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average time taken is between the receipt of an application for an EEA Permanent Residence Card and the issuing of such a card to successful applicants in the latest period for which information is available.

Phil Woolas: Based on the applications decided over the preceding 12 month period, the average time elapsed from receipt of an application for an EEA Permanent Residence Card and the issuing of such a card to successful applicants was eight months.

Entry Clearances

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average processing time is for applications to the UK Border Agency for  (a) registration certificates to EEA nationals and  (b) residence cards to non-EEA family members of EEA residents; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: Based on the applications decided over the preceding 12 month period, as of 6 May 2009 the average time taken by the UK Border Agency to issue Registration Certificates to EEA nationals was four months. The average time taken to issue Residence Cards to non-EEA family members of EEA residents was eight months.

Entry Clearances

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which individuals have been prohibited from entering the United Kingdom since June 2007; what the reasons for the prohibitions applied were; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: The information is as follows:
	(a) A non-British national can be excluded (prohibited) from entering the UK if their presence here is not considered to be conducive to the public good. On 28 October 2008, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary introduced a presumption that it would be in the public interest to disclose the names of individuals excluded from the UK on grounds of unacceptable behaviour from that date onwards. On 5 May 2009, the UK Border Agency published a list of 16 individuals who have been excluded since last October 2008. Further names will be published on a regular basis where it is considered to be in the public interest to do so.
	(b) Since June 2007 the organisations known as Jammat-ul Mujahideen Bangladesh and Tehrik Nefaz-e Shari'at Muhammadi have been added to the list of those proscribed by Order under the Terrorism Act 2000. In addition, the entry on the proscribed list for the Hizballah External Security Organisation was substituted in July 2008 by the following entry:
	The military wing of Hizballah, including the Jihad Council and all units reporting to it (including the Hizballah External Security Organisation).
	Reasons for the proscriptions are provided on the Office for Security and Counter Terrorism website at the following address:
	http://security.homeoffice.gov.uk/legislation/current legislation/terrorismact2000/proscribedgroups
	Proscription creates a number of criminal offences relating to membership and support of the organisations concerned. Additionally, it is the policy of the UK Border Agency that individuals who are members of proscribed organisations should be excluded from entering the UK.

Entry Clearances: Biometrics

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which British embassies in Africa have the ability to collect biometric data.

Phil Woolas: A total of 31 UK diplomatic missions and UK visa application centres in Africa have the ability to collect biometric data. They are located in the countries listed as follows. Where there is more than one biometric collection point, the number is shown in brackets.
	Algeria
	Angola
	Botswana
	Cameroon
	Congo
	Egypt (2)
	Ethiopia
	Gambia
	Kenya
	Libya
	Malawi
	Morocco
	Mozambique
	Namibia
	Nigeria (4)
	Rwanda
	South Africa (4)
	Sudan
	Tunisia
	Uganda
	Zambia
	Zimbabwe.

Fines

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of fines issued in each police force area under  (a) fixed penalty notices and  (b) penalty notices for disorder have been collected in each year since 1997-98.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 24 March 2009
	Information on the outcomes (including payment rates) of fixed penalty notices for motoring offences in 2006 and 2007 (latest available) are provided in tables 1 and 2 placed in the House Library.
	Information for the years 1997 to 2005 can be found in the annual Home Office publication 'Offences relating to motor vehicles, England and Wales, Supplementary tables'Tables 21(a) and 21(b) refer. Copies are available in the Library of the House.
	The number of penalty notices for disorder (PNDs) issued to persons aged 16 and over in each police force area in England and Wales which were paid within the 21 day Suspended Enforcement Period (SEP) and registered as fines for non-payment, by type of offence from 2004 to 2007 (latest available) are shown in tables 3 to 6 placed in the House Library. 21 days is the minimum period before which forces can register a fine against the recipient for not responding to a notice, so forces can accept payments after the SEP for administrative purposes. It is not possible to identify the payment rate of fines arising from unpaid PNDs separately from other court-imposed fines. However, the latest enforcement rate for all fines including those from unpaid PNDs, is 85.2 per cent. for the period April to December 2008.
	PNDs were implemented in all 43 forces in England and Wales in 2004.
	PND data for 2008 will be available in the autumn of 2009.

Fraud: Banks

Edward Vaizey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will commission an inquiry into allegations of fraud committed by banks against their customers.

Alan Campbell: holding answer 23 March 2009
	The investigation of alleged criminal offences is an operational matter for which the police are responsible. Anyone who has evidence of a fraud being committed should therefore report the matter to the police without delay.
	The Government have recently improved the enforcement capacity for fraud by allocating extra funding to the City of London police to enable that force to take on the most serious and complex fraud cases across England and Wales. The force will also provide assistance and training for local forces investigating complex fraud cases.

Fraud: Credit Cards

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department has taken to reduce the level of credit card fraud in Coventry in the last 12 months.

Alan Campbell: The Government take all fraud seriously wherever it is perpetrated, which is why we have allocated 29 million in new funding over three years to implement the National Fraud Programme which includes establishing a National Fraud Authority; a National Fraud Reporting Centre and a National Lead Force for investigating serious and complex fraud. The National Fraud Authority which brings together Government, law enforcement and industry representatives, became operational in October last year and on 19 March published the first National Fraud Strategy which will benefit all areas of the country. The National Fraud Reporting Centre will equip law enforcement agencies with a powerful intelligence tool, enabling the police to collate information from fraud cases across the country, leading to better intelligence and hence better targeted operations, as well as better prevention advice for businesses and the public. In its rote as national lead force, City of London Police will tackle serious and complex fraud wherever it occurs and assist other police forces by offering training and best practice advice.
	On plastic card fraud specifically, we work closely with the card industry to encourage wider adoption by retailers and cardholders of new anti fraud initiatives and were, for example, pleased to support the industry's Be Card Smart public education campaign last Christmas.

Heroin

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of heroin apprehended in the UK was of  (a) South American and  (b) Afghanistani and Pakistani origin in each of the last three years.

Alan Campbell: The Serious Organised Crime Agency estimates that over 90 per cent. of the heroin which reaches the UK is derived from Afghan opium. The remainder is from areas including south east Asia. There is little evidence of heroin of south American origin reaching the UK market.

Heroin

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the proportion of heroin apprehended in the UK in each of the last three years which had been transported through  (a) Somalia and  (b) other African countries.

Alan Campbell: Most heroin that reaches the UK is routed overland from Afghanistan to Europe or from Pakistan directly to the UK. There is little evidence of heroin, destined for UK markets, being transported through Somalia or other African countries.

Hezbollah

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will prevent the Hezbollah spokesperson Ibrahim Moussawi from entering the United Kingdom.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 13 March 2009
	Mr. Moussawi was refused a visa on the grounds that his presence in the UK would not be conducive to the public good, in particular because it would increase tension between the Jewish and Muslim communities.

Hotels

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much  (a) her Department and  (b) each of its agencies spent on hotel and other similar privately provided accommodation (i) in the UK and (ii) abroad in 2008-09.

Phil Woolas: The requested information is set out in the table. It covers the hotel accommodation of around 25,300 staff.
	
		
			  Expenditure in accommodation 
			  000 
			   Home Office, including UK Borders Agency  Identity and Passport Service  Criminal Records Bureau 
			 UK 3,792 1,041 n/a 
			 Overseas 1,902 12 n/a 
			 Total 5,694 1,053 210 
		
	
	Criminal Records Bureau cannot analyse UK or Overseas expenditure, without incurring disproportionate cost.
	The Department expects all official travel, and the associated accommodation, to be undertaken by the most efficient and economic means available, taking into account the cost of travel and subsistence, savings in official time, management benefit, and the needs of staff with disabilities. This is in accordance with the Civil Service Management Code and the Ministerial Code.

Identity Cards: Airports

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions she has had with the union Prospect on the decision to introduce compulsory identity cards for airside workers in the aviation sector.

Phil Woolas: The Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, my hon. Friend the Member for Hackney, South and Shoreditch (Meg Hillier) met with union representatives, led by the TUC and including Prospect, to discuss identity cards for airside workers on 10 September 2008.

Identity Cards: Airports

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of airside workers at each airport who will be required to carry identity cards once the pilot schemes are implemented nationally.

Phil Woolas: We have agreed with Manchester and London City airports that the initial requirement to obtain an identity card will be placed on new airside workers only. Therefore the number of identity cards issued will depend on the levels of recruitment taking place at the airport for new airside employees.
	The wider UK population will have the opportunity to apply for identity cards from 2011-12 when we start to enrol British citizens at high volumes, offering a choice of receiving a separate identity card, passport or both. Currently, over 5 million passports are issued per year.
	The Identity Cards Act 2006 specifically prohibits making the carrying of an identity card compulsory.

Identity Cards: Local Government

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the functions will be of local authorities in the trials of identity cards in beacon areas.

Phil Woolas: As announced on 6 May 2009, residents of Greater Manchester (the city's 10 boroughs) will be the first British citizens to be able to apply for a voluntary ID card from autumn 2009.
	The precise details of the role that local authorities might play in the future rollout of ID cards in any chosen geographical location have yet to be determined, bearing in mind the need to make use of existing assets and infrastructure, where appropriate, to deliver the National Identity Service.

Illegal Immigrants

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of measures to remove illegal immigrants from the UK.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 15 May 2009
	The UK Border Agency is continuing in its large-scale modernisation programme to improve the effectiveness of its border and immigration control. These include increasing the security of our borders through the e-Borders system; starting the roll-out of local immigration teams; and introducing a new system of civil penalties for those employing illegal migrant workerschanges which are designed to make the UK harder to enter illegally, harder to stay in illegally, and less attractive to potential illegal migrants in the first place.
	The Home Office publishes statistics on the number of persons removed and departed voluntarily from the UK, on a quarterly and annual basis. National Statistics on immigration and asylum are placed in the Library of the House and are available from the Home Office's Research, Development and Statistics website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum-stats.html
	In 2008, these published statistics show that 66,275 people were removed or departed voluntarily from the UK, an increase of 5 per cent. from 2007 (63,365). In addition, the UK Border Agency deported nearly 5,400 foreign criminals, a record performance.
	This is evidence that the UK Border Agency is succeeding in its commitment to removing individuals with no right to be herewith a focus on targeting the most harmful first.

Immigration

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are being taken to expedite the determination of immigration decisions.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 20 March 2009
	The UK Border Agency is committed to delivering an efficient service for all customers and claimants.
	In terms of economic and family migration, the principal means by which the UK Border Agency is working to speed up the determination of immigration decisions is through the introduction of the points based system for all those applying to work or study in the UK.
	The tiers relating to highly skilled migrants, skilled migrants and temporary workers are already operational, having been introduced in 2008. Tier 4, which applies to students, was introduced on 31 March 2009.
	In other economic and family migration categories there are performance improvement plans in place to speed up case processing times.
	For asylum cases, the UK Border agency has published the milestones for the conclusion of cases it intends to fulfil on route to the ultimate objective of concluding 90 per cent. of cases within six months by December 2011. Most recently, UKBA successfully achieved the milestone of concluding 60 per cent. of cases in six months by the end of December 2008.

Immigration

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what occupations in her Department's most recent shortage occupation lists relate to job titles in the software industry.

Phil Woolas: The Government's latest shortage occupation list, which was announced on 13 May, contains roles within visual effects and 2D/3D animation for film, television or video games, R and D software and software engineer.

Immigration

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many outstanding applications for indefinite leave to remain are being processed by the UK Border Agency.

Phil Woolas: There were 43,090 outstanding applications for indefinite leave to remain being processed by the UK Border Agency as at 12:30 pm on 18 May 2009.
	 Notes:
	1. Data relate to lead applicants only.
	2. Figures are rounded to the nearest five.
	3. The figures quoted are not provided under National Statistics protocols and have been derived from local management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change.
	 Source:
	UKBA Case Information Database

Immigration

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individual representations  (a) she and  (b) Ministers in her Department have received from members of the public regarding their personal immigration case in each of the last six months.

Phil Woolas: Information regarding letters received from members of the public to Ministers regarding personal immigration cases is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Immigration

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 6 May 2009,  Official Report, column 285W, on local immigration teams, where each of the nine operational teams is based.

Phil Woolas: A further 14 local immigration teams (LITs) have become operational since the previous answer was given, with the total now standing at 23. These are based in the following areas:
	1. Bedfordshire and West Northamptonshire
	2. Berkshire
	3. Brent
	4. Buckinghamshire
	5. Cambridgeshire and East Northamptonshire
	6. Ealing
	7. East Midlands
	8. Hammersmith and Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea
	9. Hampshire and Isle of Wight
	10. Harrow
	11. Hillingdon
	12. Hounslow
	13. Kent
	14. Merseyside
	15. Norfolk
	16. Northumbria
	17. Oxfordshire
	18. Richmond and Kingston
	19. Salford and Central Manchester
	20. Somerset
	21. South Wales
	22. Staffordshire
	23. Strathclyde, Dumfries and Galloway and Central Scotland.

Immigration

Terry Rooney: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what definition her Department uses of a legacy case in respect of the work of the UK Border Agency.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 21 May 2009
	Legacy cases are all unresolved asylum cases that were lodged with the UK Border Agency before March 2007 that are not being processed by the Regional Asylum Teams.

Immigration Controls

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps have been taken to develop joint threat assessment mechanisms between police forces and the UK Border Agency to underpin operational work at the UK border; and what timetable has been established for the work.

Jacqui Smith: Following on from the memorandum of understanding which was signed in 2008, the UK Border Agency and the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) are continuing to work closely together to enhance their relationship at the UK border. UKBA have senior officials in place at ports of entry to facilitate liaison with the police and other agencies. This collaboration is designed to increase opportunities for working together, including the capacity for joint threat assessments.

Immigration Controls

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultation was undertaken on the change to Tier One of the immigration points-based system requiring applicants to hold a Masters degree rather than a Bachelors degree.

Jacqui Smith: The changes to the requirements for Tier 1 were discussed widely across Government Departments.

Immigration Controls

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Health on the effect on medical training of the recent change to Tier One immigration rules for highly skilled migrants; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: I and my Cabinet colleagues have regular discussions about changes to the immigration system. Officials continue to work together to ensure that changes to the immigration system do not have an adverse impact on this important sector.

Immigration Controls

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many sponsors for Tier 2 of the points-based immigration system are classified as  (a) category A and  (b) category B.

Phil Woolas: There are 9,168 registered Tier 2 sponsors, of which 8,841 are rated as category A and 327 as category B.

Immigration: Children

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her Department's policy is on the detention of children subject to immigration control.

Phil Woolas: The UK Border Agency would always prefer that those whose applications to stay in the United Kingdom have failed, leave the country voluntarily. This is particularly so of families with children. However, detention is regrettable where individuals fail to leave and where removal therefore has to be enforced.

Immigration: Children

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her Department's response is to the findings of the Children's Commissioner's report The Arrest and Detention of Children Subject to Immigration Control.

Phil Woolas: The Children's Commissioner for England published his report on 27 April. The United Kingdom Border Agency is now considering his recommendations carefully and will respond to the commissioner within two months of publication.

Immigration: Detainees

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many adults currently held in immigration removal centres in the UK have been held there for  (a) less than six,  (b) between six and 12,  (c) 12 to 24 and  (d) longer than 24 months.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 1 May 2009
	 The following table shows the number of adults detained solely under Immigration Act powers as at the end of December 2008 by length of detention.
	
		
			  Persons recorded as being in detention in the United Kingdom solely under Immigration Act powers by length of detention as at 27 December 2008( 1,2) 
			  Number of persons 
			Of whom: 
			  Length of detention( 3)  Total detainees  Adults  Children( 4) 
			 Less than 6 months (5)1,800 (5)1,760 40 
			 6 months to less than 12 months (5)295 (5)295  
			 12 months to less than 24 months (5)135 (5)135  
			 24 months or more (5)15 (5)15  
			 Grand total 2,250 2,210 40 
			 (1) Figures rounded to the nearest 5 ('' = 0), may not sum to the totals shown because of independent rounding and exclude persons detained in police cells, Prison Service establishments and those detained under both criminal and immigration powers. (2) Figures include dependants. (3) Relates to most recent period of sole detention. (4) People recorded as being under 18 on 27 December 2008. These figures will overstate if any applicants aged 18 or over claim to be younger. (5) Figures are based on management information. This information has not been quality assured under National Statistics protocols, is subject to change and should be treated as provisional. 
		
	
	National Statistics on how many detainees, including children, are detained on a quarterly snapshot basis by length of detention is available in table 11 of the Control of Immigration Quarterly Statistical Summary United Kingdom publication
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs09/immiq408.pdf
	and from the Library of the House.

Immigration: EU Nationals

David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for European Economic Area residence cards were received by the UK Border Agency in the latest year for which figures are available; and how many such applications resulted in a residence card being issued within six months.

Phil Woolas: Based on the period 12 May 2008 to 12 May 2009, UKBA received a total of 26,930 EEA residence card applications. The number of issues during this period was 1,550. Of these 740 were issued within six months.
	Please note these figures have been rounded to the nearest five.

Immigration: Families

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the average processing time for residence card applications for family members of EEA nationals.

Phil Woolas: Based on the applications decided over the preceding 12 month period, the average processing time of applications for residence cards for family members of EEA nationals was eight months.

Immigration: Families

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for residence cards for family members of EEA nationals took longer than six months to process in each of the last three years.

Phil Woolas: The number of applications for residence cards for family members of EEA that took over six months to process, in each of the last three years, are as follows:
	
		
			   Total of cases with a processing time of 6+ months 
			 2006(1) 810 
			 2007 4,480 
			 2008 6,420 
			 2009(2) 3,890 
			 Total 15,600 
			 (1) From 6 May 2006 (2) To 6 May 2009  Note: All figures have been rounded to the nearest five.

Immigration: Families

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for residence cards for family members of EEA nationals are being processed.

Phil Woolas: As of 6 May 2009 the number of applications for residence cards for family members of EEA nationals awaiting processing was 28,590.

Industrial Health and Safety

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department spent on compliance with requirements of health and safety at work legislation in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: The information requested is not collated centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

International Organisation for Migration: Finance

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much funding her Department allocated to the International Organisation for Migration in 2008.

Phil Woolas: The Home Office has allocated approximately 19.9 million to the International Organisation for Migration for the financial year 2008-09. This figure is subject to audit.

Licensed Premises: Wales

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) public houses,  (b) night clubs and  (c) other licensed premises in each police force area in Wales have been issued with (i) a written warning, (ii) a penalty notice and (iii) a temporary or permanent closure notice as a result of drunken behaviour in or around the licensed premises under the powers of the Licensing Act 2003, in each year since the Act came into force.

Alan Campbell: holding answer 23 April 2009
	The Home Office does not collect data centrally on any of the issues raised.
	Penalty notices for disorder (PNDs) can only be issued to individuals for 24 specific offences. Information collected centrally records the offence but is not broken down further to provide details of location etc. PNDs cannot be issued to 'other' defendants which would include companies and public bodies.
	Data on the number of closure notices issued are collected by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport who have provided the following Tables. These cannot be broken down by premises type.
	
		
			  Table 1: Number of completed reviews following a premises licences closure orderWelsh licensing authorities 
			   Premises licence (following closure orders under s.161 of Act) 
			   April 2006 to  March 2007  April 2007 to  March 2008 
			 Blaenau Gwent 0 0 
			 Bridgend 0 0 
			 Caerphilly 1 0 
			 Cardiff 0 0 
			 Carmarthenshire 0 0 
			 Ceredigion 0 0 
			 Conwy 0 0 
			 Denbighshire 0 0 
			 Flintshire 0 1 
			 Gwynedd n/a 0 
			 Isle of Anglesey 0 1 
			 Merthyr Tydfil 0 0 
			 Monmouthshire 0 0 
			 Neath Port Talbot 0 0 
			 Newport n/a 0 
			 Pembrokeshire 0 0 
			 Powys 0 0 
			 Rhondda Cynon Taff n/a 0 
			 Swansea 0 0 
			 Torfaen 0 0 
			 Vale of Glamorgan 0 0 
			 Wrexham 0 0 
			 Wales total 1 2 
			  Notes: 1. Does not include closure orders where a review did not take place. 2. This power did not come into force until May 2007. 3. Statistics on Alcohol, Entertainment and Late Night Refreshment licensing have been collected on an annual basis since 2006-07. This collection does not identify the number of public houses in England and Wales, but rather the number of premises authorising the sale or supply of alcohol by means of a premises licence or a club premises certificate. The figures therefore include licensed premises such as hotels, off licences and convenience stores as well as public houses. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Number of premises licences closure notice, where a premises is prohibited from selling alcohol for 48 hours following a closure notice under S.169A for persistent sales of alcohol to childrenWelsh licensing authorities 
			   Closure notice (premises licence) under s.169A of Act 
			   April 2006 to  March 2007( 1)  April 2007 to  March 2008 
			 Blaenau Gwent n/a 0 
			 Bridgend n/a 0 
			 Caerphilly n/a 0 
			 Cardiff n/a 0 
			 Carmarthenshire n/a 0 
			 Ceredigion n/a 0 
			 Conwy n/a 0 
			 Denbighshire n/a 0 
			 Flintshire n/a 0 
			 Gwynedd n/a n/a 
			 Isle of Anglesey n/a 0 
			 Merthyr Tydfil n/a 0 
			 Monmouthshire n/a 0 
			 Neath Port Talbot n/a 0 
			 Newport n/a 0 
			 Pembrokeshire n/a 0 
			 Powys n/a 0 
			 Rhondda Cynon Taff n/a 0 
			 Swansea n/a 0 
			 Torfaen n/a 0 
			 Vale of Glamorgan n/a 0 
			 Wrexham n/a 0 
			 Wales total n/a 0 
			 (1) This information was not collected for 2006-07.  Note: Statistics on Alcohol, Entertainment and Late Night Refreshment licensing have been collected on an annual basis since 2006-07. This collection does not identify the number of public houses in England and Wales, but rather the number of premises authorising the sale or supply of alcohol by means of a premises licence or a club premises certificate. The figures therefore include licensed premises such as hotels, off licences and convenience stores as well as public houses.

Members: Correspondence

Denis MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when a reply will be sent to the right hon. Member for Rotherham's letter of 5 October 2008 addressed to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in respect of Mr Charles Spencer and a visa request for a Ukrainian national, Ms Natalia Dvokriadkina.

Phil Woolas: The Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, my hon. Friend the Member for Hackney, South, and Shoreditch (Meg Hillier) replied to the right hon. Member on 13 March 2009.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton of 11 February 2009 regarding Mrs. A. Dar.

Jacqui Smith: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 20 April 2009.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the letter of 27 January 2009 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Mrs. Herd S. Ali.

Jacqui Smith: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 25 March 2009.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the letter of 25 January 2009 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Yasmin.

Jacqui Smith: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 25 March 2009.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the letter to her dated 16 February 2009 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mrs. M. Ahmad.

Jacqui Smith: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 17 March 2009.

Members: Correspondence

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Minister of State for Borders and Immigration plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Hammersmith and Fulham of 18 February 2009 on his constituent Mr John Crosby.

Phil Woolas: The UK Border Agency replied to the hon. Member's correspondence on 13 May 2009.

Members: Correspondence

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the UK Border Agency plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for North Norfolk of 20 March 2009.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 7 May 2009
	 The Chief Executive of the UK Border Agency replied to the hon. Member on 7 May 2009.

Metropolitan Police: Discrimination

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was paid by the Metropolitan Police in settlement of claims for discrimination in each of the last five years; under what category of discrimination each case was paid; and what the individual sum was in each case.

Jacqui Smith: The available data are given in the table. Decisions to award settlement are taken by the Metropolitan Police Service and the Metropolitan Police Authority.
	Under the Normington Review proposals, the Home Office has stopped collecting information on compensation claims from April 2009, in order to reduce the bureaucratic burden on police forces and free up officers to focus on tackling local crime.
	Figures on individual cases are not collected centrally.
	
		
			  ADR641: Amounts paid, either by settlement or award, by the Metropolitan police in compensation claims in each of the last five years 
			   
			   2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			  Amount of monetary settlements paid however the employment tribunal orders at the end of the case  
			 Other Discrimination 63,750 399,385 90,000 69,500 324,000 
			 Race Discrimination 189,700 140,450 141,667 23,000 4,375 
			 Sex Discrimination 97,000 165,200 148,500 31,750 191,290 
			   
			  Amount of awards paid in employment tribunal  
			 Other Discrimination 0 0 0 11,380 0 
			 Race Discrimination 0 13,980 0 0 0 
			 Sex Discrimination 0 0 53,415 0 0 
			  Note: Data have been validated and confirmed by the Metropolitan police.

Organised Crime Partnership Board

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Organised Crime Partnership Board (OCPB) has taken since its inception; what goals have been set by the Board in 2009 and 2010; and when the Ministerial Advisory Group sponsoring the OCPB's work will be established.

Jacqui Smith: The Organised Crime Partnership Board (OCPB) has developed a single programme of work aimed at strengthening the co-ordinated response to organised crime across the law enforcement and criminal justice community. The comprehensive programme of work, which has been endorsed by the National Policing Board, will increase collaboration across agencies to deliver the maximum impact on the threats from organised crime.
	A Programme Board has been established to oversee delivery of 10 projects, reporting through the OCPB to the Ministerial Advisory Group. Executive and Working Group leads from the law enforcement agencies have been appointed for each of the 10 projects and work is ongoing to set out the detailed deliverables, interdependencies, time scales, milestones and risks.
	The first meeting of the Organised Crime Ministerial Advisory Group was held on 18 March.

Organised Crime: Crime Prevention

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects to publish her Department's new strategy on organised crime.

Alan Campbell: We are planning to publish the strategy in the summer.

Personal Records: Data Protection

Eleanor Laing: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) records and  (b) data fields there are in (i) the Police National Computer, (ii) the Impact Nominal Index, (iii) the Police National Database, (iv) the National DNA Database, (v) the National Fingerprint Database, (vi) the National ANPR Data Centre and (vii) the UK Border Agency's e-borders programme.

Alan Campbell: The information is as follows:
	 (i) Police National Computer (PNC)
	The Police National Computer (PNC) is a critical national service which the Police Service and many others in the Criminal Justice System rely on in order to perform their jobs effectively and safely.
	The PNC contains records from a number of separate information databases. The information records stored on the PNC are as follows:
	Vehiclesthese records are made up of the key data items held by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) that describe the vehicle and its registered keeper. This information, supplemented by any police reports relating to vehicles of interest to the police, is primarily used for roads policing purposes.
	Drivers Licencesthese records are made up of the key data items from DVLA and record driver entitlement. Their use is confined to roads policing. The system was constructed to enable enquiries to be carried out efficiently and save members of the public from having to present their documents at police stations, reducing inconvenience and saving police time.
	Propertythese records are constructed by the police and describe stolen, lost and found items of property that are uniquely identifiable by a (serial) number.
	Crimelinkthese records are constructed by the police and relate to serious unsolved crimes, where the perpetrator has yet to be identified.
	National Firearms Certificate Holdersthese are records pertaining to the management of firearm licences. They hold details of members of the public who legally own firearms, renew firearms licences, have been refused a licence or had one revoked. The Dunblane tragedy was a key driver for developing the system.
	Namesthese records are created when individuals are arrested. They record any charges and the subsequent disposal. All recordable convictions are held on the PNC. In England and Wales, records are retained in accordance with ACPO's Criminal Records Office PNC Data Retention Guidelines (publicly available via the ACPO website). In essence all records are retained until the individual is 100 years of age. Records from Scotland are retained in accordance with their legislation and records on the PNC are deleted in the same timeframe as that of Scotland's Criminal History System (CHS).
	The table shows the number of records held on the PNC, broken down by the various information databases, as at 13 November 2008. These figures are not mutually exclusive; for example, the same record may be included in more than one database.
	
		
			   Number 
			 Vehicles 58,161,658 
			 Names 9,172,689 
			 Drivers Licences 51,901,851 
			 Property 97,978 
			 Crimelink 621 
			 National Firearms Certificate Holders Register (NFCHR) 1,390,920 
		
	
	The current number of data fields available for each type of record is as stated in the following table.
	
		
			   Number 
			 Vehicles 33 
			 Names 253 
			 Drivers Licences 58 
			 Stolen property 22 
			 Crimelink 19 
			 National Firearms Certificate Holders Register 253 
		
	
	While this illustrates the data fields available they will not all be completed for every record.
	Where fields are sub-divided, for example a post code may be entered in two parts, or where multiple entries can occur, for example up to 999 addresses may be entered on a person's record, this has been counted as one data field.
	 (ii) Impact Nominal Index (INI)
	The INI is a system used by all police forces in the United Kingdom and other joint operating authorities such as the Serious Organised Crime Agency and Child Exploitation and Online Protection centre. It provides summary level information of people who have passed through one of six business areas of the police forces. These business areas are: crime, custody, child protection, domestic violence, firearms licensing (revoked and refused) and intelligence.
	The system is part of the response to Sir Michael Bichard's inquiry into the Soham murders, seeking to provide a national information sharing capability to prevent criminals escaping detection simply by crossing force boundaries.
	As at 19 March 2009 there were 69,246,299 records on the INI.
	Each INI record contains 15 data fields, which include eight fields for the basic nominal data such as surname, forenames, PNC ID, date of birth, age and gender.
	The remaining fields contain reference information pertaining to the origin of the data such as the details of the police force/organisation, reference ID, business area and number of records held.
	 (iii) Police National Database (PND)
	The PND has not yet been built and therefore does not contain any records or data fields.
	 (iv) National DNA Database
	The National DNA Database (NDNAD) plays a key role in catching criminals, eliminating the innocent from investigations and focusing the direction of inquiries. It is also one of the few long-term investigation tools, sometimes identifying criminals many years after they believe they have escaped detection. The purpose of the NDNAD is to match DNA profiles left at crime scenes with DNA profiles from known subjects and thereby provide the police with a lead for further investigation.
	As at 30 March 2009 there were 5,614,411 subject profile records retained on the National DNA Database (NDNAD) from all police forces, relating to approximately 4,856,466 individuals. Of these, 5,258,779 were from English and Welsh police forces, relating to approximately 4,548,844 individuals. In addition, as at 31 December 2008 there were 343,657 crime scene profiles retained on the NDNAD, of which 329,482 were from English and Welsh police forces.
	The reason why the number of subject profile records is not the same as the number of individuals is that it is possible for a profile to be loaded onto the NDNAD on more than one occasion; that is, some profiles held on the NDNAD are replicates. This can occur, for example, if the person provided different names or different versions of their name on separate arrests, or because profiles are upgraded.
	All NDNAD records have the same structure consisting of 36 data fields. However, some of these fields are only relevant to subject profiles, and some are only relevant to crime scene profiles. Therefore, no record will have all data fields completed.
	 (v) National Fingerprint Database (IDENT.1)
	IDENT1, the national fingerprint database, is central to police investigation, crime detection and public safety. It gives the ability to establish the identity of arrestees and link a presence at a crime scene with a verified identity quickly and, where necessary, to a forensic standard.
	As at the end of February 2009, the IDENT1 (National Fingerprint Database) Unified Collection of Print Sets contained the verified identities of 7.8 million individuals, with which were associated 16.9 million sets of ten-prints and 6.7 million palm prints. The Unified Collection of Unresolved Crime Scene Marks contained 1.78 million finger marks and 115,000 palm marks. There were also 4,600 marks in the Serious Crime Collection.
	In addition to the fields representing the biometric data above, there are five fields relating to the biographic data associated with each person: first name, surname, date of birth, gender and appearance.
	 (vi) National ANPR Data Centre (NADC)
	Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology allows vehicle registration marks to be read by cameras and for the details to be compared against identified database records.
	ANPR data itself involves a number of different components. These are:
	The overview image, which shows a picture of those parts of vehicle captured by camera while photographing the number plate.
	The plate patch, which extracts and isolates the picture of the number plate from the overview image.
	The ANPR interpretation (Read) which shows how the ANPR programme has read the number plate.
	Hotlists, which are lists of vehicles of interest to the police.
	ANPR matches (hits) which show when an ANPR read has matched something on a hotlist.
	Time, date and location stamp, which show when and where the data was obtained (the entire national system is time/date synchronised).
	The NADC provides a national store for the ANPR data captured by police forces.
	The NADC does not itself contain personal data. However, it does contain data which, when combined with other data sources (e.g. vehicle keeper records), could identify an individual. Access to the NADC is only permitted for major and serious investigations and requires authorisation in each case by a senior officer. The level of authority required to access ANPR data increases over time.
	It is estimated that there are currently 1.3 billion records held on the system.
	For each number plate read recorded, nine fields are populated. For each number plate read that matches a hotlist (for example a list of uninsured vehicles), 11 fields are populated, six fields are used to record details of cameras, four fields are used to record audit information.
	 (vii) UK Border Agency's e-borders programme
	The Semaphore Legacy system of e-Borders currently contains over 82 million records.
	The e-Borders system will capture data on passengers and crew arriving in and departing from the UK. This data is API (Advance Passenger Information) and OPI (Other Passenger Information). API will be captured on all those travelling to and from the UK and will comprise up to eight data fields. OPI will be provided by carriers on selected routes only. This will be a data record corresponding to their passenger reservation information. Carriers will only be required to provide this to the extent that it is known, the number of data fields in these records will therefore vary and none are mandatory.

Police Community Support Officers

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the expanded list of police community support officer powers outlined in the Policing Green Paper will be  (a) finalised and  (b) implemented nationally.

Jacqui Smith: The results of the evaluation of the powers of police community support officers will be published this summer.

Police: Internet

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions each police force has accessed social networking websites to carry out investigations in the last 10 years.

Alan Campbell: holding answer 13 May 2009
	The information requested is not held centrally, and the only way that it could be provided is to approach each police force directly.

Police: Manpower

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what timetable has been set for the work on redefining the role and core competencies of police sergeants and the associated accreditation process.

Jacqui Smith: The activities of the police sergeant role are being rationalised and updated as part of the first phase of the review of the Integrated Competency Framework and will be available for use within role profiles and sergeants' Performance and Development Reviews from late June 2009.

Police: Pay

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the salary of the chief constable of each police force in England and Wales is.

Vernon Coaker: The salaries for each chief constable in England and Wales are contained in Home Office Circular 24/2008, which can be found on the Home Office website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/aboutus/publications/homeofficecirculars/circulars2008/0242008/621951?view=Binary
	I have placed a copy of this circular in the House of Commons Library.

Racially Aggravated Offences: Coventry

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department has taken to reduce the level of racially-aggravated crime in Coventry in the last 12 months.

Alan Campbell: Much of the Home Office's work to tackle racially-aggravated and other hate crimes is at national level as the first step.
	For instance, the Home Office is currently developing a Cross-Government Action Plan on Hate Crime in conjunction with other Departments and criminal justice agencies. This aims to support Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRPs), such as Coventry's Community Safety Partnership, to tackle racially-aggravated crime and learn from good practice in other localities. Local areas need to be able to tailor their response to their particular situation.
	Coventry's Community Safety Partnership continues to prioritise the importance of anti-racist training which has been delivered not only to staff working in the community but also to police officers, neighbourhood wardens, social landlords and community activists. Hate crime in Coventry has been reduced by 9.1 per cent. in the 12 months of 2008-09 against the previous 12 months of 2007-08.

Sentencing

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) cautions and  (b) penalty notices for disorder were issued for (i) burglary, (ii) theft and (iii) other offences in each of the last three years; and if she will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: I have been asked to reply.
	Data on the number of offenders issued with  (a) a caution for (i) burglary (ii) theft and (iii) other offences for England and Wales in each year from 2007 (latest available), are shown in table 1.
	Data on the number of penalty notices for disorder issued for the offence of retail theft and other offences included in the PND scheme for England and Wales in each year from 2005 to 2007 are shown in table 2. The disposal is not available for issue for burglary or for any other category of theft offence.
	Cautions and PND data for 2008 will be available in the autumn of 2009.
	
		
			  Table 1:  N umber of offenders issued with a caution by offence type, and the offence stealing from shops and stalls (shoplifting), in England and Wales, 2005 to 2007( 1) 
			  Offence type/Offence  2005  2006  2007 
			 Burglary 6,451 7,687 6,972 
			 Theft and handling stolen goods 67,619 72,369 72,790 
			  of which:
			 Stealing from shops and stalls (shoplifting) (Theft Act 1968, Sec 1)(2) 44,012 45,054 44,747 
			 Violence against the person 51,020 57,273 52,334 
			 Sexual offences 1,761 1,922 1,966 
			 Robbery 622 712 614 
			 Fraud and forgery 6,936 8,024 8,587 
			 Criminal damage 7,246 9,018 8,813 
			 Drug offences 34,390 37,426 43,050 
			 Other indictable offences 6,889 9,378 9,972 
			 Summary offences (excluding motoring) 116,011 146,168 157,797 
			 Total 298,945 349,977 362,895 
			 (1) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  (2) The data for this offence are also included in the offence type of theft and handling stolen goods.   Source:  Evidence and Analysis UnitOffice for Criminal Justice Reform, Ministry of Justice. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2:  N umber of penalty notices for disorder issued to all persons aged 16 and over, by offence, England and Wales 2005 to 2007( 1) 
			   Number issued 
			  Offence code and description  2005  2006  2007 
			  80 tickets issued
			 Wasting police time 2,525 3,933 3,966 
			 Misuse of public telecommunications system 405 909 1,193 
			 Giving false alarm to fire and rescue authority 92 106 96 
			 Causing harassment, alarm or distress 64,007 82,235 77,827 
			 Throwing fireworks 642 682 649 
			 Drunk and disorderly 37,038 43,556 46,996 
			 Sale of alcohol to under 18 2,058 3,195 3,583 
			 Purchasing alcohol for under 18 170 407 555 
			 Purchasing alcohol for under 18 for consumption on premises 83 60 64 
			 Delivery of alcohol to under 18 209 297 431 
			 Criminal Damage (under 500) 12,168 20,620 19,946 
			 Theft (retail under 200) 21,997 38,772 45,146 
			 Breach of fireworks curfew 33 53 39 
			 Possession of category 4 firework 13 28 22 
			 Possession by a person under 18 of adult firework 47 76 106 
			 Sale of alcohol to drunken person 32 47 81 
			 Supply of alcohol to person under 18 3 60 54 
			 
			  50  t ickets  i ssued
			 Trespass on a railway 220 1,042 1,527 
			 Throwing stones at a train/railway 20 15 25 
			 Drunk in a highway 3,138 2,712 2,066 
			 Consumption of alcohol in public place 712 1,061 1,544 
			 Depositing and leaving litter 737 1,169 1,374 
			 Consumption of alcohol by under 18 on relevant premises 84 75 85 
			 Allowing consumption of alcohol for under 18 27 14 11 
			 Buying alcohol by under 18 21 73 158 
			 Total all offences 146,481 201,197 207,544 
			 (1) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.   Source:  Office for Criminal Justice Reform Evidence and Analysis unit..

Sexual Offences

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many sex offenders have been subject to multi-agency public protection arrangements in the last 12 months.

Alan Campbell: Data on MAPPA management and on the number of registered sexual offenders in England and Wales are available in the annual published MAPPA reports
	http://www.probation.justice.gov.uk/output/page30.asp
	The MAPPA annual report for 2007-08 is the most recent. A total of 5,788 registered sexual offenders were managed via MAPPA meetings between 1 April 2007 and 31 March 2008.

Sexual Offences: Victim Support Schemes

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions she has had on  (a) provision of and  (b) funding for sexual assault referral centres.

Alan Campbell: The Government have committed to ensuring that every police force has access to a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) by 2011. There are currently 28 SARCs operating with a further nine in development.
	As part of the 2008-09 SARC funding round, the Home Office funded a team of experts led by the Department of Health to assist areas who have yet to develop a SARC with their plans for one, including providing advice on bids and suitable models. The team will be funded by the Department of Health from 2010.
	In 2009-10, 1.6 million has been made available for new and existing Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs). 659,000 was allocated in September 2008. A further 941,000 was announced in April 2009 and organisations have until 3 June to submit bids.

Sexual Offences: Victim Support Schemes

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions she has had on provision of funding for sexual assault referral centres by local authorities.

Alan Campbell: The Government have supported the establishment and development of the Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) network since 2003-04. However, because health and police budgets are devolved, SARCs must be resourced primarily at a local level if they are to be sustainable. Sources of funding for SARCs include police forces and primary care trusts, police authorities, hospitals, local authorities, local crime and disorder reduction partnerships and community safety partnerships, local criminal justice boards and donations from businesses and private benefactors. National service guidelines on developing SARCs have been produced jointly by the Home Office and Department of Health which strongly encourage those who commission health and police services to invest in SARCs in line with local assessments of need.
	In addition, as part of the 2008-09 SARC funding round, the Home Office funded a team of experts led by the Department of Health to assist areas who have yet to develop a SARC with their plans for one, including providing advice to areas on developing local partnerships and securing local funding. The Department of Health will be funding the team to continue this support until 2011.

Sexual Offences: Victim Support Schemes

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment has been made of the adequacy of provision of sexual assault referral centres.

Alan Campbell: The Government have committed to ensuring that every police force has access to a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) by 2011. There are 28 SARCs operating and a further nine in development. Every Government office area has a SARC either in operation or in development.
	As part of the 2008-09 SARC funding round the Home Office funded a team of experts led by the Department of Health to assist areas who have yet to develop a SARC with their plans for one. In 2009-10, 1.6 million has been made available for new and existing Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs). 659,000 was allocated in September 2008. A further 941,000 was announced in April 2009 and organisations have until 3 June to submit bids. Priority for funding will be given to areas that do not currently have access to a SARC.

Sexual Offences: Victim Support Schemes

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions she has had with charities and groups that work with victims of sexual crime on Government assistance for them.

Alan Campbell: The Home Office provides core funding of 75,000 each to the two umbrella organisations representing victims of sexual violence: (i) Rape Crisis England and Wales; and (ii) The Survivors Trust. That funding has continued in 2009-10. In addition, the Home Office has contributed to the cross-Government Special Fund of 1.6 million for specialist sexual violence voluntary sector organisations which was announced on 19 March by the Minister for Women and Equality.
	The Special Fund and other central Government funds are provided in addition to local funding which may be provided, for example, from local authorities, health bodies and charitable trusts. Local decision makers are best placed to assess local needs, and Government expect the majority of funding to the sexual violence voluntary sector to come from local sources. The Government recognise the ongoing funding problems experienced by the sexual violence voluntary sector, particularly in respect of accessing local funding. We are working with our delivery partners to consider what more can be done to assist organisations to access local funding. This follows on from the recommendations made by the Home Office's Stakeholder Advisory Group on Sexual Violence and Abuse Funding Sub-group.
	In addition the Government Equalities Office has commissioned a research project to help improve our understanding of the stability and sustainability of the violence against women voluntary sector, including sexual violence services. We aim to develop a long-term funding strategy for the sector later this year.

Terrorism: Foreigners

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria apply in taking decisions on whether to  (a) deport and  (b) charge terrorist suspects from overseas following their arrest.

Phil Woolas: The criteria which apply to a decision to deport in these circumstances are first, that the person's deportation from the United Kingdom would be conducive to the public good, and second, that the person's removal to the intended destination would be consistent with the United Kingdom's international obligations.
	The policy for charging terrorist suspects from overseas is the same as for all suspects and is set out in the Crown Prosecution Service's Code for Crown prosecutors. In all cases, there are two tests: whether there is sufficient evidence; and whether a prosecution is in the public interest. Whether it would be in the public interest to prosecute such cases will depend on the particular facts of each case.

Theft: Motor Vehicles

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what percentage of  (a) domestic burglaries and  (b) robberies included the theft of a vehicle in each year since 1997.

Alan Campbell: Analyses of the items stolen in incidents of domestic burglary as described by victims interviewed by the British Crime Survey (BCS) are published annually by the Home Office as supplementary tables to our annual crime statistics 'Crime in England and Wales'. The following table provides an estimate of the proportion of incidents of burglary in which a vehicle or vehicle parts were stolen for all available years from 1997 onwards.
	The number of BCS respondents who have been robbery victims is too low to provide a robust breakdown on the nature of items stolen.
	
		
			  Items stolen in incidents of burglary( 1) ,1997 to 2006-07 
			  BCS 
			 Interviews 
			   1997  1999  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Vehicle/vehicle parts(2) 1 2 2 6 4 5 4 4 
			 Unweighted base 391 405 482 584 521 517 492 509 
			 (1) Figures from 1997 to 2002/03 refer to incidents of burglary with loss. Figures from 2003-04 to 2006-07 refer to incidents of burglary with entry. (2) 'Vehicle/vehicle parts' includes 'motorcycle/moped', 'car/van', and 'car/van accessories/parts'.

Tranquillisers

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Chairman of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs has provided scientific advice to the Government on tranquillisers in the last 12 months.

Alan Campbell: holding answer 18 May 2009
	The chairman of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs has not provided scientific advice to the Government on tranquillisers in the last 12 months.

UK Border Agency: Manpower

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff are employed by the UK Border Agency.

Phil Woolas: The number of people employed by the UK Border Agency is set out in the following table:
	
		
			  Area  Full-time equivalent figure 
			 UK Border Agency(1) 16,782 
			 International Group(2) 2,308 
			 Total(3) 19,090 
			 (1) Permanent and temporary civil servants. Figure excludes agency workers. (2) This figure contains locally engaged staff who are employed by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. (3) These figures do not include those transferred from HMRC as they are not, as yet, formally part of the Agency.  Sources: 1. ADELPHI personnel system 31 March 2009 2. International Group 1 April 2009

UK Border Agency: Pay

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many UK Border Agency staff earned over  (a) 60,000,  (b) 80,000 and  (c) 100,000 in 2008.

Phil Woolas: The information requested is as follows.
	For the calendar year 2008:
	104 employees earn between 60,000 and 80,000
	20 employees earn between 80,000 and 100,000
	1 employees earn over 100,000

United Kingdom Human Trafficking Centre

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many overseas visits UK Human Trafficking Centre staff have undertaken in each of the last three years; what the destination was of each such visit; and what the total cost of such visits was.

Alan Campbell: holding answer 30 April 2009
	Figures for the past three years are not available .
	However, since 18 March 2008 UKHTC staff have undertaken 45 trips abroad that have incurred a total expense of 23,760.67.
	These trips have been predominantly to European destinations, with other trips to the USA and Saudi Arabia. The purpose of these visits has been to take forward work to progress co-operation on human trafficking with our European and international partners.
	This has included operational matters, joint training with the International Organisation of Migration and the Irish police, the launch of the Irish Blue Blindfold campaign and the signature of an intelligence sharing MoU with the US Human Smuggling and Trafficking Centre.

Vetting

Stephen Ladyman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what mechanisms are in place for payment of compensation to those who lose  (a) their post and  (b) an opportunity to take up a new post owing to the length of time taken to complete a Criminal Records Bureau check.

Vernon Coaker: The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) does not pay compensation. The payments CRB makes are on an ex gratia basis, as an award to reinforce the sincerity of an apology.
	The CRB is bound by the Treasury Guidelines and must endeavour to put all individuals back into the position they would have been but for any maladministration on the part of the Bureau. This scheme is called a Redress Scheme. The CRB awards redress if it has not followed its procedures and it has caused the applicant a loss.

Vetting

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information her Department holds on the number of people on the Independent Safeguarding Authority's list of those prevented from working with children.

Alan Campbell: The Home Office holds no information on people on the Independent Safeguarding Authority's list of those prevented from working with children.

Victim Support Schemes

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent work her Department has undertaken with local authorities in the provision of victim support services.

Alan Campbell: holding answer 6 May 2009
	Support for victims is primarily the responsibility of the Ministry of Justice although the Home Office continues to support some specialist services particularly for victims of violent crime.
	For example, the Home Office has funded 28 Sexual Assault Referral Centres to provide support to victims of sexual violence and is supporting the national rollout of independent domestic violence advisers, and independent sexual violence advisers, ensuring that this support is available to all victims of these crimes.
	The Ministry of Justice is working directly with local authorities to help them improve their response to human trafficking, strengthening the identification and support of victims.

Victim Support Schemes

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent work her Department has undertaken with local authorities in the provision of rape crisis services.

Alan Campbell: holding answer 6 May 2009
	The Government expect the majority of funding to the sexual violence voluntary sector to come from local sources as police and health budgets, and area based grants, are devolved to local decision makers who are best placed to assess local needs. However, the Government recognise the ongoing problems experienced by the sexual violence sector in respect of accessing local funding. Officials across Government are working to develop a long-term funding strategy based on research currently under way, and on recommendations made by the Home Office's Stakeholder Advisory Group on Sexual Violence and Abuse Funding Sub-group.
	In order to support services in the short-term, the Minister for Women and Equality announced on 19 March 2009, a 1.6 million special fund to keep open much-needed services by providing grants to specialist sexual violence voluntary organisations.

Work Permits

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many non-EU citizens were given the right to work in the United Kingdom in each of the last six months for which figures are available.

Phil Woolas: Information relating to the number of work permit applications for non-EU workers approved between July and December 2008 is contained in the following table.
	The figures do not equate to the number of individual nationals who were granted permits because they include those applications approved to extend or amend an existing permit or where the individual has moved to another job with a different employer. Not all those who were granted a permit took up the job and some may have been refused entry clearance or further leave to remain. This table does not include grants of permission to work under comparable routes within the new points based system as those data are not yet available. It is due to be published in August.
	
		
			  Approved work permit applications, non-EU nationals ( 1, 2) 
			  2008  Number 
			 July 11,225 
			 August 12,680 
			 September 13,780 
			 October 10,450 
			 November 9,360 
			 December 4,220 
			 (1) Figures are rounded to nearest five. (2) The figures quoted are not provided under National Statistics protocols and have been derived from local management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to Questions  (a) 245364 on senior information risk owner and  (b) 245325 on data handling by contractors and suppliers, tabled on 15 December 2008.

Phil Woolas: I replied to the hon. Member on 23 March 2009,  Official Report, column 114W and 6 May 2009,  Official Report, columns 271-72W.

Written Questions: Government Responses

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to answer question 247975 tabled on 12 January, on placing material in the Library; what the reason for the time taken to reply is; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 18 March 2009
	I replied to the hon. Member on 11 March 2009,  Official Report, column 298W. My Department makes every effort to answer all Members parliamentary questions within the timescales given.

Young Offenders: Sexual Offences

Judy Mallaber: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans she has to tackle sexual violence perpetrated by children and young people; and if she will make a statement.

Alan Campbell: A minority of sexual offenders are children. Their age and needs as children have to be balanced against the issue of public protection as they have committed a serious criminal offence. Such challenges are acknowledged in the 2007 Government Action Plan on Sexual Violence and Abuse and a cross-Government framework on Young People who Sexually Abuse is currently being developed.
	This will establish a common screening framework so that young people who display sexually harmful behaviour are identified earlier and receive appropriate treatment, thereby reducing the risk of reoffending in adulthood.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Church of Scientology

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Meriden of 20 April 2009,  Official Report, column 428W, on Faith Communities Capacity Building Fund, whether the Church of Scientology is deemed to be a faith organisation under her Department's definition of a religious or belief community.

Sadiq Khan: The Government do not maintain a list of recognised faiths. The Equality Act 2006 and the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003 define religion and belief as any religion or any religious or philosophical belief or any lack of such religion or belief. This broad definition is in line with that in article 9 of the European convention on human rights, which also stipulates that a religion must have a clear structure and belief system. This is consistent with the guidance notes for applications to the Faith Communities Capacity Building Fund. If there is any question of doubt as to whether or not something constitutes a religion or belief within that definition then it would ultimately be a matter for the courts to determine.

Climate Change

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps her Department has taken to adapt to climate change in the last two years.

Sadiq Khan: In February 2008 the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) published its Sustainable Operations Policy. The document details the Department's commitment to ensuring our internal activities are sustainable and that our performance continually improves. The policy covers the key areas of climate change and energy, sustainable consumption and production, and natural resource protection. It addresses all the targets and mandates for Sustainable Operations on the Government Estate (SOGE) requiring, for example, that all new departmental buildings, major refurbishments and office relocation projects fully consider and as appropriate include measures that recognise the need for appropriate procurement, adaptation and resilience to future climate conditions during the design process.
	Specific measures taken during the last two years have included fitting solar film to glazing (to reduce solar gain), and commissioning a heat recovery feasibility study at Eland House, which identifies options for reducing the CLG estate's contribution to the urban heat island effect.

Climate Change

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of her Department's potential gross  (a) costs and  (b) savings arising from its climate change adaptation measures in the next three years.

Sadiq Khan: The Department for Communities and Local Government is currently in the process of calculating the potential gross costs and savings arising from planned climate change adaptation measures across the HQ estate over the next three years.
	There are a number of adaptation measures being considered, such as the application of additional solar film and installation of heat recovery systems, but these options have not yet been fully appraised. Having assessed the potential short term risks to the Department's estate from climate change the primary focus at present remains on climate change mitigation.

Corporate Manslaughter and Homicide Act 2007

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent assessment her Department has made of the merits of self-certification for fire certificates in light of the effect on businesses of the Corporate Manslaughter and Homicide Act 2007.

Sadiq Khan: None. Fire certificates, as required by the 1971 Fire Precautions Act, were abolished in October 2006 with the introduction of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

Councillors

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to Baroness Hamwee of 7 May 2009,  Official Report, House of Lords, column WA134, on community empowerment, housing and economic regeneration, for what reasons her Department has decided not to proceed with proposals on  (a) remote attendance and voting by councillors,  (b) payments for councillors on loss of office and  (c) incentives to vote in local elections.

Sadiq Khan: Most of the proposals for change in the White Paper Communities in Control do not require legislation. For those where legislation is required, the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill, which is currently before Parliament, contains the major provisions, including a number added since introduction. Given the stage of the parliamentary cycle, we have decided to concentrate our energy on this, and not to publish a Draft Community Empowerment Bill, which would have contained only a few more minor proposals.
	Substantial progress has been made since Communities in Control was published. We plan to publish a Communities Progress Report soon.

Departmental Consultants

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Meriden of 7 May 2009,  Official Report, column 385W, on departmental consultants, if she will place in the Library a copy of the final report produced by McKinsey and Company as part of its review of her Department's communications.

Sadiq Khan: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles) on 6 February 2007,  Official Report, column 779W.

Departmental Dismissal

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many members of staff in her Department and its agencies were dismissed  (a) for under-performance and  (b) in total in each of the last 10 years.

Sadiq Khan: A total of seven staff have been dismissed from this Department, or its predecessors, and its agencies in the last 10 years for poor performance.
	As the number of staff dismissed in each of the last 10 years is less then five, we are not able to supply this information on the grounds of confidentiality.

Departmental Reviews

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many  (a) review and  (b) taskforce projects her Department has commissioned in each of the last five years; what the purpose of each such project is; when each such project (i) began and (ii) was completed; what the cost of each such project was; and if she will make a statement.

Sadiq Khan: Summary information on taskforces and other standing bodies is available in the annual Cabinet Office publication Public Bodies. Copies of Public Bodies 2008 are available in the Libraries of the House. Detailed information on ad hoc advisory bodies is available in the publication The Department for Communities and Local Government's Public Bodies 2008. A copy of this publication can be obtained from the Department's website at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/corporate/publicbodies2008
	Information about reviews commissioned since the Department's creation is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, I would like to refer the hon. Member to the departmental annual report, which sets out the activities of the Department over the year including information on reviews and taskforces. Copies of the current and previous annual reports for Communities and Local Government are available in the Library of the House.

Departmental Stationery

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much her Department and its predecessor spent on the purchase of  (a) recycled office supplies in the last 12 months and  (b) printer ink cartridges in each of the last five years.

Sadiq Khan: The following table shows how much the Department has spent (excluding VAT) with its preferred supplier on the purchase of recycled office supplies in each of the last five years:
	
		
			   
			   (a) recycled office supplies  (b) recycled printer cartridges/toners 
			 2004-05 133,014 11,058 
			 2005-06 127,731 7,473 
			 2006-07 109,624 16,551 
			 2007-08 113,128 33,540 
			 2008-09 114,005 37,583 
		
	
	The Department's office supplies were ordered from the supplier's Globe  Tick range of sustainable products. Globe  Tick assessment criteria are based on a broad range of factors including the supplier's environmental management system, the country of origin, ease of disposal and the method of transportation if imported from overseas.

Departmental Stationery

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of office supplies purchased by her Department were recycled products in the latest period for which figures are available.

Sadiq Khan: For the period May 2008 to April 2009, 29 per cent. of the Department's office supplies were ordered from the supplier's Globe and Tick range of sustainable products. Globe and Tick assessment criteria are based on a broad range of factors including the supplier's environmental management system, the country of origin, ease of disposal and the method of transportation if imported from overseas.
	During this period 92 per cent. of our paper came from a recycled source.

Departmental Visits Abroad

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Meriden of 7 May 2009,  Official Report, column 387W, on departmental visits abroad, what the purpose was of each visit to  (a) North America,  (b) Australia and  (c) Asia.

Sadiq Khan: The purpose of each visit to North America, Australia and Asia was to represent the Department and provide expert advice on policy/subject issues.
	Records on overseas visits held in Communities and Local Government (CLG) do not identify separately the detailed information on the purpose of each visit.
	All travel is undertaken in accordance with the Civil Service Management Code.

Departmental Work Experience

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many work placements her Department and its predecessor offered to  (a) school pupils,  (b) university students and  (c) graduates in each of the last five years.

Sadiq Khan: Over the last five years the Department for Communities and Local Government has taken the following number of university students or graduates on work placements:
	
		
			   Students 
			 2009 24 
			 2008 10 
			 2007 9 
			 2006 9 
			 2005 13 
		
	
	The Department does not keep a record of how many individuals have undertaken work placements from school pupils.

Fire Prevention

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether she has considered the merits of enabling fire services to conduct fire risk assessments for local businesses under the Fire Precautions Act 1971.

Sadiq Khan: The Fire Precautions Act 1971 was abolished in October 2006 with the introduction of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
	Under the Fire Safety Order, those with the responsibility for any non-domestic premises are required to carry out a fire risk assessment and put in place measures which adequately protect lives in the event of a fire. Local fire and rescue authorities (FRAs) are required by the order to enforce the provisions of the order in the majority of premises. While FRAs can support responsible persons to comply with the order through the provision of fire safety advice and guidance, their enforcement duty means it would be inappropriate for them to carry out risk assessments on behalf of the responsible person.

Homes and Communities Agency: Finance

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on how many occasions her Department has received a request from  (a) the Tenant Services Authority and  (b) the Homes and Communities Agency and its predecessor bodies to incur expenditure which is potentially (i) novel and (ii) contentious in each of the last three years.

Margaret Beckett: There have been no formal requests from the Tenants Services Authority or the Homes and Communities Agency to incur expenditure which is potentially novel or contentious.
	The predecessor bodies for the Homes and Communities Agency were English Partnerships, the investment arm of the Housing Corporation, and the Academy for Sustainable Communities. A range of departmental programmes also transferred to the Agency from Communities and Local Government. The Department has not approved any formal requests on the basis that the proposals were novel or contentious in the last three years for programmes and projects relating to English Partnerships, the Housing Corporation or the Academy for Sustainable Communities.
	In practice, the HCA, TSA and their predecessor bodies would normally discuss any potentially novel and contentious expenditure with the Department before submitting a formal request.

Homes and Communities Agency: Finance

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what expenditure made by the Homes and Communities Agency and its predecessor bodies required approval from her Department in each of the last five years; and how many grants of approval were made.

Margaret Beckett: The framework document for the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) provides that for project-based programmes, prior Community and Local Government (CLG) approval is required for any projects which involve proposed public expenditure of 10 million or over, expenditure that is potentially novel, contentious or repercussive, or an endowment (to support the ongoing maintenance and upkeep of amenity lands). It also provides for CLG approval for any project under the Community Infrastructure Fund, for all PFI projects, and for all novel or major joint venture projects. My Department has given no approvals to the HCA since its inception on 1 December 2008 under the above categories that involved expenditure in 2008-09.
	The predecessor bodies for the Homes and Communities Agency were English Partnerships, the investment arm of the Housing Corporation, and the Academy for Sustainable Communities. A range of departmental programmes also transferred to the Agency from Communities and Local Government.
	Prior to the inception of the HCA, the investment arm of the Housing Corporation was required to seek departmental approval on an annual basis on the investment appraisal criteria to be used for assessing bids on its national affordable housing programme and related sub-programmes.
	The financial memorandum for English Partnerships (EP) required that CLG approval was given for spending in excess of 10 million, all endowments, and spending which involved the acquisition of a greenfield site. The following table shows the number of approvals made in each of these categories in each year over the last five years. In addition EP sought CLG approval to enter into an interest in a number of bodies in recent years, many of which would have led to expenditure for revenue support of the body; all such subsidiary undertakings are listed in EP's annual report and accounts.
	Finally, the Department has not approved any formal requests on the basis that the proposals were novel, contentious or repercussive in the last five years for programmes and projects relating to English Partnerships, the Housing Corporation or the Academy for Sustainable Communities. In practice, these bodies would normally discuss any potentially novel, contentious or repercussive expenditure with the Department before submitting a formal request.
	
		
			  Approvals to English Partnerships 
			   Number of approvals 
			  2004-05  
			 Projects over 10 million 25 
			 Endowments 1 
			 Greenfield 3 
			   
			  2005-06  
			 Projects over 10 million 9 
			 Endowments 5 
			 Greenfield  
			   
			  2006-07  
			 Projects over 10 million 18 
			 Endowments 6 
			 Greenfield  
			   
			  2007-08  
			 Projects over 10 million 9 
			 Endowments 7 
			 Greenfield 1 
			   
			  2008-09  
			 Projects over 10 million 6 
			 Endowments 3 
			 Greenfield 0

Housing Associations: Finance

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much was spent by  (a) housing associations and  (b) local authorities on housing asylum seekers in each of the last five years.

Phil Woolas: I have been asked to reply.
	The Home Office does not record the level of expenditure incurred by local authorities and housing associations in respect of the housing of asylum seekers.

Housing: Construction

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local authorities in the South East provide details of building control commencement and completion notices to the Valuation Office Agency.

Stephen Timms: I have been asked to reply.
	Valuation Office Agency offices in the South East of England have reported that the following local authorities have provided building control commencement lists and building control completion notices in the last 12 months.
	
		
			   Commencement lists  Completion notices 
			 Eastbourne Borough Council Yes No 
			 Hastings Borough Council Yes No 
			 Lewes District Council Yes No 
			 Rother District Council Yes No 
			 Wealden District Council Yes No 
			 Brighton and Hove Council Yes No 
			 Ashford Borough Council Yes Yes 
			 Canterbury City Council Yes Yes 
			 Dover District Council Yes Yes 
			 Gravesham Borough Council Yes Yes 
			 Sevenoaks District Council Yes Yes 
			 Shepway District Council Yes Yes 
			 Swale District Council Yes Yes 
			 Thanet District Council Yes Yes 
			 Tunbridge Wells Borough Council Yes Yes 
			 Medway Council Yes Yes 
			 Eastleigh Yes Yes 
			 Fareham Yes Yes 
			 Gosport Yes Yes 
			 Havant Yes Yes 
			 New Forest Yes Yes 
			 Test Valley Yes Yes 
			 Portsmouth Yes Yes 
			 Southampton Yes Yes 
			 Isle of Wight Yes Yes 
			 Basingstoke and Deane Yes Yes 
			 East Hants Yes Yes 
			 Hart Yes Yes 
			 Rushmoor Yes Yes 
			 Winchester Yes Yes 
			 West Berkshire Yes Yes 
			 Bracknell Forest Yes Yes 
			 Chiltern No Yes 
			 Aylesbury Vale No Yes 
			 Guildford Yes No 
			 Waverley No Yes 
			 Woking Yes No 
			 Cherwell No Yes 
			 Oxford Yes No 
			 Elmbridge Yes No 
			 Spelthorne Yes No 
			 Mole Valley Yes No 
			 Reigate and Banstead Yes No

Housing: Expenditure

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what percentage of capital expenditure on housing was spent in each region in each year since 1997.

Iain Wright: Information on current and capital expenditure on services in each region is available from pages 117-31 of Public Expenditure Statistical Analysis 2008 (PESA) published by HM Treasury. In addition, the Department's annual report carries information on expenditure across different categories by region. Further analysis would demand extra work from officials which would be at disproportionate cost.

Housing: Low Incomes

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average right-to-buy discount was as a percentage of average  (a) house prices and  (b) right-to-buy property sale prices in each region in each year since 1997.

Iain Wright: The following table shows the average Right to Buy discount as a percentage of house prices in England, by year and region.
	
		
			  Percentage 
			   North East  North West  Yorkshire and Humber  East Midlands  West Midlands 
			 1997-98 27  26 25 25 
			 1998-99 25  25 26 24 
			 1999-2000 17 23 23 23 23 
			 2000-01 19 21 22 21 22 
			 2001-02 17 20 21 20 20 
			 2002-03 16 18 17 19 17 
			 2003-04 16 18 17 16 17 
			 2004-05 16 16 15 15 15 
			 2005-06 16 16 16 14 15 
			 2006-07 15 16 15 15 15 
			 2007-08 14 16 15 14 14 
		
	
	
		
			  Percentage 
			   Eastern  London  South East  South West  England 
			 1997-98 28 29 27 26 27 
			 1998-99 26 27 26 25 26 
			 1999-2000 27 24 25 24 24 
			 2000-01 23 21 21 22 21 
			 2001-02 21 20 20 21 19 
			 2002-03 19 17 18 18 17 
			 2003-04 17 16 17 17 15 
			 2004-05 17 14 16 15 14 
			 2005-06 16 11 16 15 13 
			 2006-07 16 8 15 14 12 
			 2007-08 15 6 14 13 11 
			  Source:  Right to Buy figures are from P1B returns from local authorities to CLG. Average property prices are from CLG House Price Index figures. 
		
	
	The following table shows the average Right to Buy discount as a percentage of Right to Buy property prices in England, by year and region.
	
		
			  Percentage 
			   North East  North West  Yorkshire and Humber  East Midlands  West Midlands 
			 1997-98 49 49 47 47 48 
			 1998-99 48 48 47 50 49 
			 1999-2000 47 48 47 46 48 
			 2000-01 47 47 46 45 49 
			 2001-02 46 46 46 43 47 
			 2002-03 45 45 44 41 44 
			 2003-04 42 43 43 38 40 
			 2004-05 34 41 40 35 34 
			 2005-06 34 37 35 31 33 
			 2006-07 31 34 31 28 30 
			 2007-08 28 32 28 27 30 
		
	
	
		
			  Percentage 
			   Eastern  London  South East  South West  England 
			 1997-98 50 53 49 49 49 
			 1998-99 49 53 50 50 50 
			 1999-2000 47 51 47 48 48 
			 2000-01 45 48 44 46 47 
			 2001-02 43 42 42 44 44 
			 2002-03 39 37 39 40 41 
			 2003-04 35 32 35 36 37 
			 2004-05 33 28 32 34 33 
			 2005-06 30 22 30 31 31 
			 2006-07 27 14 28 28 27 
			 2007-08 25 13 26 27 24 
			  Source:  P1B returns from local authorities to CLG. 
		
	
	The Right to Buy (RTB) property price figures are based on the total property price, not the amount paid by the purchaser, who is entitled to a discount on the market value. The figures only cover sales of local authority properties through the RTB scheme, not sales of registered social landlord properties. Around 80 per cent. of RTB sales in 2007-08 were local authority properties, while 20 per cent. are of properties owned by registered social landlords.
	The average property prices are based on the average of the monthly prices, and the weights used in the mix-adjustment process are changed each year. Figures are not available for the North West for 1997 and 1998 because the North West was previously calculated excluding Merseyside, and mix-adjusted prices for the North West including Merseyside are only available from 1999.
	The RTB figures are on a financial year basis, the average property prices are on a calendar year basis.

Housing: Low Incomes

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 8 May 2009,  Official Report, column 450W, on housing: low incomes, how many homes each figure in the table represents.

Iain Wright: The following tables show the number of house building completions, and the number of affordable housing new build completions, by year and region.
	The following tables show the number of homes built in each year since 1997-98, by region.
	
		
			  Number 
			   North East  North West  Yorkshire and Humber  East Midlands  West Midlands 
			 1997-98 7,580 19,200 15,460 14,550 13,390 
			 1998-99 6,540 19,220 13,080 14,760 14,250 
			 1999-2000 7,200 18,280 13,320 16,480 15,380 
			 2000-01 6,640 18,170 13,340 13,680 14,090 
			 2001-02 6,430 15,840 13,170 14,100 13,370 
			 2002-03 5,610 18,200 13,200 14,880 13,870 
			 2003-04 5,940 17,750 14,000 14,380 13,840 
			 2004-05 7,130 17,910 14,190 15,470 14,150 
			 2005-06 7,640 20,620 16,040 16,890 16,190 
			 2006-07 8,150 18,070 16,250 17,990 15,100 
			 2007-08 7,980 20,310 15,670 17,380 13,520 
		
	
	
		
			  Number 
			   Eastern  London  South East  South West  England 
			 1997-98 21,300 13,620 25,440 19,000 149,560 
			 1998-99 18,950 14,430 23,200 15,830 140,260 
			 1999-2000 18,770 13,680 22,800 15,890 141,800 
			 2000-01 16,030 14,490 21,840 14,970 133,260 
			 2001-02 15,620 13,930 21,820 15,600 129,870 
			 2002-03 17,840 15,670 22,750 15,730 137,740 
			 2003-04 18,400 19,390 24,280 15,980 143,960 
			 2004-05 19,890 24,060 25,690 17,410 155,890 
			 2005-06 20,250 18,810 28,210 18,760 163,400 
			 2006-07 22,560 22,760 27,360 19,430 167,680 
			 2007-08 22,230 20,740 30,170 18,990 166,990 
			  Source:  P2 quarterly returns submitted by local authorities and the National House-Building Council (NHBC) to CLG. 
		
	
	The following tables show the number of affordable homes built in each year since 1997-98, by region.
	
		
			  Number 
			   North East  North West  Yorkshire and Humber  East Midlands  West Midlands 
			 1997-98 1,250 3,190 2,560 1,970 2,480 
			 1998-99 950 3,570 1,840 1,870 2,530 
			 1999-2000 790 2,590 1,600 1,590 2,790 
			 2000-01 560 2,370 1,450 1,360 2,260 
			 2001-02 820 2,610 1,400 1,320 1,950 
			 2002-03 300 2,550 1,230 1,300 2,460 
			 2003-04 560 1,620 1,430 1,400 2,090 
			 2004-05 690 1,960 1,190 1,630 2,610 
			 2005-06 930 2,040 1,550 2,480 3,370 
			 2006-07 1,230 2,230 1,830 2,370 2,440 
			 2007-08 830 3,280 1,970 3,410 3,750 
		
	
	
		
			  Number 
			   Eastern  London  South East  South West  England 
			 1997-98 2,840 4,920 5,470 3,550 28,210 
			 1998-99 2,990 4,890 5,360 2,550 26,550 
			 1999-2000 2,020 4,410 3,940 2,630 22,360 
			 2000-01 2,250 4,850 3,610 2,230 20,940 
			 2001-02 2,360 5,000 3,860 2,430 21,740 
			 2002-03 2,460 4,420 4,180 2,210 21,100 
			 2003-04 2,760 6,010 5,160 2,860 23,890 
			 2004-05 3,140 6,430 6,440 2,850 26,930 
			 2005-06 4,160 7,460 7,500 3,770 33,260 
			 2006-07 5,020 10,190 7,600 3,360 36,260 
			 2007-08 6,260 11,160 8,290 4,630 43,560 
			  Source:  Affordable housing new build figures are collated from the Homes and Communities Agency Investment Management System (IMS); and Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix (HSSA) returns and P2 house building returns submitted to CLG by local authorities. Not all affordable housing is provided by new build completions, as some supply can come from acquisitions. 
		
	
	Not all affordable housing is provided by new build completions, as some supply can come from acquisitions. For example, an additional 10,170 affordable homes were acquired in England in 2007-08; these are not included in the tables above.

Housing: Low Incomes

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many financial assessments have been carried out as part of a household's application under a Homebuy scheme in each of the last three years.

Margaret Beckett: Each applicant for a HomeBuy scheme has a financial assessment carried out as part of the process to establish their eligibility and ability to afford the costs of the scheme. The Homes and Communities Agency does not collect information on the number of financial assessments that are carried out.

Housing: Low Incomes

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will place in the Library a copy of each contract between her Department and Homebuy agents; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: A copy of the standard contract between the Homes and Communities Agency and HomeBuy agents has been placed in the Library of the House. Individual contracts are commercially confidential.

Housing: Low Incomes

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how the receipts from the Social Homebuy scheme were distributed in each of the last three years.

Margaret Beckett: Receipts from Social HomeBuy sales by housing associations are retained by the vendors and are used to provide further social rented homes.
	Local authorities may retain all Social HomeBuy sales receipts provided that these are used for the purposes set out in The Local Authorities (Capital Finance and Accounting) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2006Statutory Instrument 2006 No. 521ie, for the purpose of providing affordable housing or of meeting the costs of the Social HomeBuy scheme.

Housing: Low Incomes

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many homes purchased for social rent were bought from  (a) developers,  (b) private owners and  (c) other organisations in the social sector in each of the last five years.

Iain Wright: For the number of homes purchased for social rent, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 8 May 2009,  Official Report, columns 450-51W.
	CLG do not have figures on who homes purchased for social rent were bought from.

Housing: Low Incomes

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average right-to-buy discount was as a percentage of average  (a) house prices and  (b) right-to-buy sales prices in each region in each year since 1997.

Iain Wright: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him today,  Official Report, (PQ 275906).

Local Government

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the cost to her Department of regulating local authorities was in the last 12 month period for which information is available.

John Healey: The Department for Communities and Local Government does not regulate local authorities.

Local Government Finance

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what requirements her Department plans to place on local authorities to report on their annual efficiency savings in each of the next three years.

Sadiq Khan: Councils and authorities including Fire and Rescue services are required to submit information on efficiency savings to the Department twice in each financial year; the first being a forecast of planned savings and the second being the outturn of savings achieved. Councils report through National Indicator 179 and authorities providing Fire and Rescue services report through the Fire Annual Efficiency Statement. Additionally it is a requirement for efficiency information to be recorded on council tax statements.

Local Government Finance Act 1988

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what timetable she has set for the introduction of regulations under the Local Government Finance Act 1988 to allow the deferral of payments for 2009-10 increases in business rate bills.

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  when she expects to bring forward legislative proposals for the implementation of the business rates deferral scheme; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  in which payment month she expects the business rates deferral scheme announced on 31 March 2009 to become operational for business rate payers; and if she will make a statement.

John Healey: I expect the regulations implementing the business rate deferral scheme to come into force by the end of July.
	Business ratepayers will be able to apply for deferral with local billing authorities from the point at which the regulations come into force.

Local Government: Consultants

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will make it her policy to collect information on payments made by local authorities for consultancy services.

Sadiq Khan: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 30 June 2008,  Official Report, column 630W.

Local Government: Standards

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the cost to  (a) local authorities and  (b) central Government of reporting performance information to central Government in the last 12 months; and what the average cost to local authorities in England was in the same period.

John Healey: A new National Indicator Set was introduced on 1 April 2008 as part of the new Local Performance Framework, replacing all other sets of indicators. These are the only measures on which central Government will performance manage local government working alone or in partnership. A study to estimate the cost of the Local Performance Framework and how this compares with the previous arrangements, including for the collection of performance information, is being planned once the new framework is established.

Mortgages: Government Assistance

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many individuals received financial help under the home owners mortgage support scheme in each month from September 2008 to May 2009; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: The scheme opened with the first group of lenders on 21 April. Borrowers apply to the Homeowners Mortgage Support scheme through their lender. Before being admitted to the scheme, they need to take money advice. We have worked with the participating lenders to produce a proportionate reporting system. This will provide statistics which will be published on a regular basis.

Non-Domestic Rates

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what estimate her Department has made of the cost to  (a) central Government and  (b) local authorities of implementing the business rates deferral scheme; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what estimate her Department has made of the cost to  (a) businesses and  (b) local authorities of acquiring software for the administration of the business rates deferral scheme; and if she will make a statement;
	(3)  how much funding her Department has allocated to meet implementation costs for the business rates deferral scheme; and if she will make a statement.

John Healey: The business rates deferral scheme will be operated by local billing authorities as part of their collection of business rates. As set out in the Business Rates Information Letter of 11 May 2009, which is available on the internet at
	http://www.local.communities.gov.uk/finance/busrats1.htm
	and was provided to all billing authorities in England, any net additional costs to local government as a whole arising from the business rates deferral scheme will be fully funded under the new burdens principle.
	The Government will be publishing an impact assessment alongside laying regulations in Parliament to implement the scheme. This assessment will consider possible costs to businesses and local authorities arising from changes to software systems or other administration.

Official Hospitality

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will place in the Library a copy of the guidance in her Department's staff handbook on the declaration of gifts, hospitality and financial interests.

Sadiq Khan: Our staff handbook has been developed as an interactive publication delivered through the Department's intranet. It is not held in a format which allows it to be easily exported and therefore could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

Young People

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what mechanisms her Department used to select its national pool of youth advisers; and what criteria were used in the selection process.

Sadiq Khan: The Secretary of State's panel of youth advisers were selected from a national pool of young advisers through an application process undertaken jointly with the Young Advisors charity. Applicants were also asked to provide personal statements as part of the application process.
	Applications were assessed against a range of competences including communication, interaction, leadership and managing.

INNOVATION, UNIVERSITIES AND SKILLS

Adult Education

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills pursuant to the answer of 8 May 2009,  Official Report, column 474W, on adult education, whether his Department has made any estimate of the number of new adult learning places to be created by implementation of the proposals in The Learning Revolution White Paper.

Si�n Simon: We are confident that the range of initiatives announced in The Learning Revolution White Paper will both increase the number of learning opportunities and help people access the many and varied kinds of learning that are already available. Adults want to learn in different waysthrough structured classes and through libraries, museums, self-organised groups, membership organisations and online.
	Our goal is that all adults are able to access a wide range of informal learning opportunities and that learning experiences are better joined-up so that people can pursue their interests. The Learning Revolution sets out proposals that will help achieve this goal, including increasing the availability of free and low cost spaces for learning, launching a 20 million Transformation Fund to reach out to new and different learners through partnership and innovation, setting up a support package for local learning champions and harnessing the potential of broadcasting and technology to support and enhance learning.

Adult Education: Finance

Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what criteria will be used by the Learning and Skills Council for the allocation of funding of adult education colleges to be announced on 3 June 2009.

Si�n Simon: In line with Sir Andrew Foster's recommendations, the Learning and Skills Council has been consulting on the best approach to prioritise projects.
	The first stage of prioritisation will be 'readiness'. Projects which pass through the readiness gateway will then be assessed against the other following proposed prioritisation criteria:
	Education and skills impactthis criterion assesses the extent to which the project addresses current and future education and skills need and supports industrial activism.
	Contribution to local economic and regeneration prioritiesthis criterion considers the wider economic and regeneration impact of the project.
	Co-dependency with third partiesthis criterion looks at the practical implications of not proceeding with the project and the leverage ratios involved.
	Condition of estatethis criterion evaluates the condition of the existing estate and the impact on learners and the extent to which they are addressed by the project.
	Value for moneythis criterion assesses the extent to which the project demonstrates that it has gone through a process to maximise value for money.
	We expect to announce which projects will be taken forward during this spending review period in the summer.

Apprentices

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills which Government bodies are involved in the implementation of the apprenticeship programme for 16 to 18 year-olds; and what role each such body has in respect of that programme.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: I have been asked to reply.
	The Department for Children, Schools and Families has lead policy responsibility for apprenticeships for 16 to 18-year-olds in England, and works closely with the Department for Innovation, University and Skills to ensure a coherent programme for young people and adults. A joint policy unit serves the needs of both Departments.
	The National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) has end to end responsibility for the delivery of the Apprenticeship programme, a role that will be confirmed in the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill currently before Parliament. NAS is currently housed within the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), which is responsible for funding and contracting of post-16 provision. NAS works closely with the National Employer Service within the LSC to provide an integrated service to large employers delivering Train to Gain and Apprenticeships.
	The Prime Minister and both the Department for Children, Schools and Families and the Department for Innovation, University and Skills are determined to see a continuing renaissance in the number and quality of apprenticeships, and we work closely with the National Apprenticeship Service to ensure a coherent programme for 16 to 18-year-olds in England.

Apprentices

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many people commenced  (a) level 2 and  (b) level 3 apprenticeships in (i) North West Cambridgeshire, (ii) Cambridgeshire, (iii) the East of England and (iv) England in each year since the scheme was introduced.

Si�n Simon: The following table shows the number of people starting an apprenticeship in North-West Cambridgeshire parliamentary constituency, Cambridgeshire local authority, east of England region and England by level for 2003/04 onwards, the earliest year for which we have comparable data.
	
		
			  Apprenticeship starts 
			   2003/04  2004/05  2005/06  2006/07  2007/08 
			  Apprenticeship starts  
			 NW Cambridgeshire 300 270 240 300 270 
			 Cambridgeshire 1,200 1,300 1,300 1,300 1,400 
			 East of England 13,100 12,300 11,700 12,200 14,600 
			 England 136,600 135,100 122,800 127,400 151,800 
			   
			  Advanced Apprenticeship starts  
			 NW Cambridgeshire 160 140 110 110 170 
			 Cambridgeshire 600 600 400 500 800 
			 East of England 5,200 4,700 4,200 4,600 6,400 
			 England 57,000 53,900 52,100 57,000 73,000 
			  Notes: 1. Area is based on home postcode of learner. 2. Figures for parliamentary constituency have been rounded to the nearest 10. All other figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred. Figures may not sum to totals due to rounding. 3. A small number of Higher Level Apprenticeships are included in the Advanced Apprenticeship figures. 4. Figures for England include those learners with missing postcodes, and home postcodes outside of England.  Source: WBL ILR 
		
	
	The Government are committed to rebuilding Apprenticeships. Since 1997 we have witnessed a renaissance in Apprenticeships from a low point of 65,000 to a record 225,000 apprenticeship starts in 2007/08. Completion rates are also at a record high with 64 per cent. successfully completing an apprenticeshipup from 37 per cent. in 2004/05.

Apprentices

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what events were  (a) held and  (b) visited by Ministers in his Department during Apprenticeship Week in February; and if he will post on his Department's website a copy of the report on apprenticeships commissioned by his Department from Populus.

Si�n Simon: During Apprenticeship Week there were events across the length and breadth of the country, across sectors and industries, employers and providers, Sector Skills Councils and Learning and Skills Council (LSC) regions. The activity generated over 600 pieces of national, regional and trade coverage that conveyed the diversity and strength of apprenticeships.
	The week received full cross party support from MPs and Ministers. Some examples of these events are:
	Gordon Brown visiting Ipswich to launch the Federated Apprenticeship Scheme,
	MPs across the country including Lord Young, Gillian Merron, Tom Levitt, Mark Todd, Gordon Marsden, David Evennett, Douglas Hogg, Maria Eagle, Angela Eagle, Malcolm Wicks, Joan Ryan, Bill Etherington, Joe Benton, Phil Willis, Richard Caborn, George Howarth, Natascha Engel and Hugo Swire went back to the floor to learn from the brightest and the best apprentices in a range of industry sectors.
	Regions and stakeholders up and down the country ran events aimed at encouraging employers to take on more apprentices. These were supported by a large bank of spokespeople, local authorities, national employers and celebrities. There are too many to list but some examples are:
	The LSC East Midlands had an Apprenticeships stand at a Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce Showcase event in Derby.
	There was an employer lunch hosted by Luton Borough Council, a joint employer event with the London LSC and City  Guilds.
	An employer seminar was held at the North East Business Fair on Recruitment and Retention showcasing the benefits of taking on apprentices.
	A business breakfast took place at Bentley Motors in Crewe.
	The North West Apprenticeship Summit took place in Cumbria.
	Two business breakfasts were held in the South East in Slough and Crawley.
	Private and public employer business breakfasts took place in Wellington, Devon, Bristol and Somerset.
	There was a public sector event in the West Midlands.
	There was an event for retail employers hosted by Skillsmart Retail with guest speaker Theo Paphitis.
	An Apprentice Summit hosted by Cogent, employer workshops and events hosted by Construction Skills, Creative  Cultural Skills, Habia, Improve, Lantra, Lifelong Learning UK, Management and Standards Centre, MetSkill, People 1st, Skills for Justice, Skills for Security and SkillsActive.
	Colleges were also heavily involved with both independent events and activities such as Exeter College in the South West organised a parade of 50 Performing Arts Students through the town to raise awareness of apprenticeships.
	 Secretary of State John Denham attended two events during the week.
	1. He co-hosted an employer seminar with Secretary of State Ed Balls and Sir Alan Sugar which was attended by over 350 employers. It offered employers an opportunity to question the Ministers and Sir Alan about the value of apprenticeships.
	2. Secretary of State also visited Southampton Football Club where he met an Apprentice Footballer who has been nominated for the Football Association's Apprentice of the Year Awards.
	 Lord Young also took an active role in the events of the week:
	1. He gave 20 interviews to promote the business case research findings including Radio 5 Live, Radio 5 Wake up to Money, BBC Radio 2 as well as numerous regional stations.
	2. He participated in a webchat with Simon Waugh, Chief Executive of the National Apprenticeships Service and Dave Walsh from British Telecom. It was aired on 14 websites including The Guardian and Personnel Today.
	3. Lord Young also went back to the floor, returning to British Telecom where he began his career as an apprentice.
	 David Lammy MP also participated in the week:
	1. He was accompanied by an apprentice from Government Skills for the day. The Apprentice, John, got an insight into the day in the life of a Minister through attending meetings and witnessing the Minister being interviewed at Millbank.
	 Sion Simon MP visited the opening of Sutton Coldfield/Matthew Boulton Learning Resource Centre during which he met a group of Apprentices at the business centre.
	The Populus research referred to was not commissioned by the Department for Innovation Universities and Skills, but by a PR agency on behalf of the Learning and Skills Council. The research was published on 24 February in conjunction with a press notice released to support the activity during Apprenticeship Week. It is available on the National Apprenticeship Service website.

Apprentices: Greater London

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many public sector apprenticeships have been started in each London local authority area since 2005.

Si�n Simon: We do not hold centrally data on the number of apprentices there have been in the public sector by local authority. The Government are committed to developing and expanding apprenticeships in the public sector and earlier this year Cabinet colleagues announced plans for the expansion of the apprenticeships scheme across the public sector. We announced a 140 million package to deliver 35,000 extra places this year of which 21,000 would be in the public sector.

Apprentices: South Yorkshire

Jeff Ennis: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many people commenced level 2 apprenticeships in  (a) Barnsley,  (b) Doncaster and  (c) South Yorkshire in each of the last five years.

Si�n Simon: The following table shows the number of people starting a Level 2 apprenticeship in the local authorities of Barnsley and Doncaster, and the metropolitan county of South Yorkshire for 2003/04 to 2007/08.
	
		
			  Level 2 Apprenticeship  s tarts 
			   2003/04  2004/05  2005/06  2006/07  2007/08 
			 Barnsley 1,100 1,000 1,000 1,100 1,500 
			 Doncaster 1,700 1,700 1,800 1,600 2,000 
			 South Yorkshire 4,900 4,600 4,300 4,200 5,300 
			  Notes: 1. Area is based on home postcode of learner. 2. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 100. 3. South Yorkshire metropolitan county is made up of the local authorities of Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and the City of Sheffield.  Source: WBL ILR 
		
	
	The Government are committed to rebuilding Apprenticeships. Since 1997 we have witnessed a renaissance in Apprenticeships from a low point of 65,000 to a record 225,000 apprenticeship starts in 2007/08. Completion rates are also at a record high with 64 per cent. successfully completing an apprenticeshipup from 37 per cent. in 2004/05.

Basic Skills

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills which 10 skills courses are the most  (a) over- and  (b) under-subscribed.

Si�n Simon: Information on whether individual courses are over-subscribed or under-subscribed is not collected centrally. FE colleges and providers are independent institutions and are responsible for determining their own curriculum offer in order to respond to the demand locally from learners and employers. The curriculum offered by colleges will therefore change to respond to this demand rather than being a set offer that learners and employers apply for. Funding for these courses will also reflect demand and reward those colleges and providers that are most effective at meeting local demand. This will include moving funding from under performing colleges and providers in order to support those over performing.
	FE colleges and providers are given indicative budgets based on the expected delivery of an overall volume of learning. However, the actual numbers and types of courses delivered by a college or provider will depend on demand. The Statistical First Release (SFR) Post-16 Education: Learner Participation, Outcomes and Level of Highest Qualification Held (March 2009) provides information on the number of LSC-funded learners.
	Tables 1 and 2 show the 10 most/least popular Sector Subject Areas for learning aims in 2007/08, the subject area in which the course is based. It also shows the total number of learning aims undertaken in further education colleges.
	
		
			  Table 1: Learning aims in 2007/08 by Sector Subject Area (SSA)10 most popular SSAs for courses undertaken in further education colleges 
			  Sector Subject Area (tier 2)  Number of learning aims 
			 Foundations for Learning and Life 2,000,700 
			 ICT for Users 338,400 
			 Health and Social Care 335,900 
			 Preparation for Life and Work 315,700 
			 Science 180,700 
			 Crafts, Creative Arts and Design 179,400 
			 Sport, Leisure and Recreation 153,700 
			 Business Management 131,700 
			 Information and Communication Technology 128,700 
			 Languages, Literature and Culture of the British Isles 126,400 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Learning aims in 2007/08 by Sector Subject Area (SSA)10 least popular SSAs for courses undertaken in further education colleges 
			  Sector Subject Area (tier 2)  Number of learning aims 
			 Social Sciences 5,600 
			 Warehousing and Distribution 3,200 
			 Marketing and Sales 2,400 
			 Publishing and Information Services 2,400 
			 Architecture 1,800 
			 Archaeology and Archaeological Sciences 1,500 
			 Medicine and Dentistry 600 
			 Urban, Rural and Regional Planning 300 
			 Anthropology 100 
			 Linguistics  
			  Notes: 1. A learner may be enrolled on more than one learning aim. 2. Includes LSC-funded learners only. 3.  indicates less than 50 aims.  Source: FE and UfI Individualised Learner Records

Leeds City College Keighley

Ann Cryer: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills if he will take steps to ensure that the building programme for Leeds City College Keighley campus is completed on schedule; and if he will make a statement.

Si�n Simon: Capital funding for Further Education colleges is administered by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). As the information requested is with regard to an operational matter for the Council, I have asked Geoffrey Russell, the acting LSC chief executive, to write to my hon. Friend with the further information requested. A copy of his letter will be placed in the House Libraries.

Departmental Contracts

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what services his Department has outsourced in each year since its creation; and if he will make a statement.

Si�n Simon: The Department was created in June 2007. Its corporate services were then provided by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) and the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR). Changes and consolidations have been made to those arrangements, so that the list of corporate services now provided by DCSF is as follows:
	Human resources
	Procurement
	Certain finance services
	Public communications
	Project and Programme Management support
	Legal services
	Internal audit
	Certain services in information and communications technology and information management
	Certain estates and facilities management services
	Support for Parliamentary work and honours
	Central support and data for research and analysis
	The list of corporate services now provided by BERR is as follows:
	Certain finance services
	Certain services in information and communications technology and information management
	Certain estates and facilities management services
	In addition:
	Certain services related to security are provided by the Cabinet Office;
	The Department's information and communications technology is provided under a contract with Fujitsu Services Ltd.; and
	Facilities management for the building in Swindon that is part-occupied by DIUS staff is provided by the research councils.
	Many of the Department's functions are devolved to the organisations that it funds. These are the principal areas in which functions have been transferred away from DIUS since its creation:
	The National Measurement System was transferred in April 2009 from DIUS to become part of the National Measurement Office (formerly the National Weights and Measures Laboratory); and
	Responsibility for a support programme for collaborative research and development and knowledge transfer activities was transferred in July 2007 from DIUS to the Technology Strategy Board.

Departmental Correspondence

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what procedure his Department follows for dealing with complaints received  (a) by e-mail,  (b) by post,  (c) by telephone and  (d) via his Department's website.

Si�n Simon: All complaints, whether received by e-mail, post, telephone or website are, in the first instance, handled by the Public Communications Unit, a shared service provided by DCSF, who log the complaint and pass the correspondence to the relevant official. The DIUS published procedure is then followed.
	This procedure for dealing with the complaints received through all routes is published in full on the DIUS website
	http://www.dius.gov.uk/about_DIUS/contact_DIUS/complaints.aspx

Departmental Marketing

Ann Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much has been spent by his Department on advertising in weekly and regional newspapers since its inception.

Si�n Simon: The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills has spent 35,656 on gross media, for regional press since its inception.

Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what training courses have been attended by special advisers in his Department since its inception.

Si�n Simon: Since the Department's creation, special advisers at DIUS have attended two training events, though they have done so as speakers to introduce others to their role in the Department, rather than as learners. Specifically, these two courses were corporate member training and a staff development day.

Departmental Official Hospitality

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much his Department has spent on  (a) conference services and  (b) banqueting services in each year since its creation.

Si�n Simon: All expenditure has to be incurred in accordance with the principles of Managing Public Money and the Treasury handbook on Regularity and Propriety.
	To provide the information requested would incur disproportionate cost. This is because the information is not held in the format requested. It is not possible to disaggregate costs for general training, conferences organised internally and for conferences arranged by outside bodies. Costs for the provision of food at events by a banqueting service cannot be disaggregated between all marketing, conferences and training expenditure.

Departmental Pay

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies paid in end-of-year performance bonuses to (i) all staff and (ii) senior Civil Service staff in 2008-09; and how many such payments were made.

Si�n Simon: Information on non-consolidated payments is set out as follows.
	
		
			   Non-consolidated payments 
			 All staff bonuses (below senior civil service) () 221,507 
			 Senior civil service bonuses () 311,500 
			 Number of staff awarded bonuses 225 
		
	
	All of these payments were made from and funded within existing pay bill controls. Payments to senior civil servants are based on recommendations for the Senior Salaries Review Body.

Departmental Rail Travel

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what guidance his Department issues on staff claims for travel in first class carriages on trains if there are no seats in standard class.

Si�n Simon: Rules relating to travel claims are set out in the Civil Service Management Code. The Code can be accessed at:
	http://beta.civilservice.gov.uk/about/work/codes/csmc/index.aspx
	There is no DIUS departmental guidance for the specific situation of whether members of staff may claim for travel in first class carriages on trains if there are no seats in standard class.
	Guidance does state that staff in grades Senior Executive Officer (SEO) and above have a formal entitlement to first class travel. However, before travelling, all staff should consider the following issues around the journey ahead:
	If they need to work on the train there may be occasions, for example travelling at peak times on a busy route, when first class travel will be less busy and noisy than standard class.
	If they intend to eat a full meal on the train and claim reimbursement, they should consider whether they will get a better deal by opting for a first class or executive package which includes meal vouchers.
	If they have a disability or a temporary condition, such as a broken limb, first class travel is likely to be more comfortable.
	It also states staff should consider their class of travel in advance to take advantage of discounts, route deals and meal availability. If they have booked a seat in standard accommodation but find it is too busy and noisy to work, then they may upgrade to first class.

Departmental Reviews

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many  (a) review and  (b) taskforce projects his Department has commissioned in each year since its creation; what the purpose of each such project is; when each such project (i) began and (ii) was completed; what the cost of each such project was; and if he will make a statement.

Si�n Simon: Summary information on taskforces and other standing bodies is available in the annual Cabinet Office publication Public Bodies. Copies of Public Bodies 2008 are available in the Libraries of the House.
	Information about reviews commissioned since the Department's creation is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Stationery

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much his Department has spent on branded stationery and gifts for  (a) internal and  (b) external promotional use in each year since its creation.

Si�n Simon: The information required is not held centrally and can be provided at only disproportionate cost.

Departmental Stationery

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what proportion of office supplies purchased by his Department were recycled products in the latest period for which figures are available.

Si�n Simon: All of the office paper used in DIUS since its creation has been recycled. The proportion of other office supplies that are recycled is not recorded.

Further Education

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the effect of the change in functions of the Learning and Skills Council on the role of specialist independent post-16 colleges;
	(2)  what guidance he has given to local authorities on support for the functions of specialist independent post-16 colleges; and if he will direct local authorities to guarantee funding streams for such colleges.

Jim Knight: I have been asked to reply.
	Independent specialist providers of post-16 education and training play an important role in providing education for learners with learning difficulties and disabilities, often with very specific needs and requirements. We recognise the value of having a diverse mix of high quality providers that ensures that our young people are able to access the right course or provision to help them realise their goals and ambitions. We do not feel it is appropriate to centrally guarantee funding streams for particular institutions. Local authorities will need to work in partnership with each other, providers and young people and their families to assess the level of demand in their area and to commission suitable provision that meets young people's needs.
	Provision has been made in clause 40 of the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill to require local authorities, when commissioning provision, to take account of the quality of provision being secured and encourage diversity in the range of education and training on offer to support learner choice. In addition, in deciding whether education and training is suitable to meet young people's reasonable needs, local authorities will be required to have regard to any learning difficulties the persons may have.
	We believe that the transfer to local authorities will have significant benefits in terms of a more informed and integrated commissioning of their services leading to better outcomes for learners. Arrangements are being developed, in consultation with stakeholders, that recognise that independent specialist colleges will often work across local authority boundaries and nationally, and consideration is being given to the need to minimise bureaucracy for these and other learning providers. These arrangements will feed into the statutory guidance being developed for local authorities in respect of their commissioning responsibilities which the Young People's Learning Agency (YPLA) will publish when it comes into being in April 2010, subject to the passage of the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill.
	We do not expect the YPLA to be involved in the commissioning of learning provision in the vast majority of cases, although there may be some circumstances where it may need to commission provision directly, for instance:
	where a local authority is failing or looks likely to fail in fulfilling its duties under clauses 40 and 47 of the Bill to commission suitable education or training;
	with a small number of national providers for whom it may be appropriate to commission at a national rather than local level; and
	where the sub regional group (SRG) identifies that they are not yet ready to take on the role.
	In those cases, the YPLA will need to engage those providers, including specialist colleges, to ensure that they are commissioned effectively in response to the needs of young people.

Further Education: Plymouth

Linda Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many young people resident in Plymouth, Sutton constituency were in further education  (a) in 1997 and  (b) at the latest date for which information is available.

Jim Knight: I have been asked to reply.
	Estimates of participation in education, training and employment in England for those of academic age(1) 16-18 are published annually by the Department in a Statistical First Release (SFR) each June at:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000792/index.shtml
	The Department publishes local authority estimates of participation in England as additional tables alongside the national figures, including those for Plymouth local authority. The estimates cannot be further broken down by parliamentary constituency area.
	(1) Academic age represents the age at the start of the academic year, 31 August.

Higher Education: Admissions

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills 
	(1)  what recent research his Department has commissioned on the aspirations of children in secondary school to go on to higher education;
	(2)  what proportion of people leaving school whose parents are in socio-economic groups D and E entered higher education in the last year for which information is available.

David Lammy: DIUS recently commissioned research as part of the Longitudinal Study of Young People in England (Next Steps) and the Youth Cohort Study. This covers over 11,000 16 and 17-year-olds, many of whom are at school and college, and includes questions about their attitudes towards higher education including views of its costs and benefits, intentions regarding applying for places, and awareness of financial aspects, subject preferences and other aspects of higher education. We expect that the report will be published in late June 2009.
	Information held on higher education students shows whether they are from socio- economic classes 1-7.
	In 2006/07, the proportion of 18 to 20-year-olds from the top three socio-economic classes who participated for the first time in full-time higher education was provisionally 39.5 per cent. The proportion from the bottom four socio-economic classes was provisionally 19.0 per cent.
	These figures cover English-domiciled 18 to 20-year-olds who are studying for the first time at higher education level at UK higher education institutions or English further education colleges, who remain on their courses for at least six months. Further information is available on the DIUS website:
	http://www.dius.gov.uk/~/media/publications/F/FYPSEC%20paper%202008
	The provisional 2007/08 figures will become available later this year, along with final 2006/07 figures.
	This Government are fully committed to ensuring every young person has a fair chance of attending university. We are making progress with the proportion of young entrants from lower socio-economic groups going to university increasing steadily, reaching almost 30 per cent. in 2007.

Learning and Skills Council

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many official meetings the Minister for Skills has had with the Chief Executive of the Learning and Skills Council in the last 18 months; and if he will make a statement.

Si�n Simon: Both the previous Minister for Skills and I have had regular meetings with the chief executive of the Learning and Skills Council over the past 18 months. As part of the overall accountability framework that includes formal quarterly review meetings on LSC performance, the most recent of which took place on 16 March 2009. We also meet on a regular and frequent basis to discuss a wide range of FE policy and implementation issues.

Research: Cancer

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much the Medical Research Council spent on research into  (a) leukaemia,  (b) brain cancer,  (c) lung cancer,  (d) colo-rectal cancer,  (e) breast cancer and  (f) prostate cancer in (i) 2005-06, (ii) 2006-07 and (iii) 2007-08.

David Lammy: The Medical Research Council (MRC) is one of the main agencies through which the Government support medical and clinical research. The MRC is currently funding a large portfolio of site-specific and general underpinning cancer research. In 2007/08, the MRC's expenditure on cancer research amounted to 89.5 million.
	The MRC's expenditure on research related to leukaemia, brain cancer, lung cancer, colo-rectal cancer, breast cancer and prostate cancer in 2005/06 to 2007/08 is as follows:
	
		
			   
			  Area  2005/06  2006/07  2007/08 
			 Leukaemia 13.8 million 13.3 million 14.0 million 
			 Brain cancers 900,000 940,000 970,000 
			 Lung cancer 1.6 million 2.1 million 2.0 million 
			 Colo-rectal cancer 9.2 million 9.2 million 11.4 million 
			 Breast cancer 5.9 million 5.7 million 6.3 million 
			 Prostate cancer 6.2 million 5.1 million 5.8 million

Spaceflight: EU Action

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what his policy is on participation in EU Space policy.

David Lammy: The UK is committed to working with the EU so as to maximise the potential economic and strategic benefits of space for its citizens, and plays a full role in all forums relating to space.

Trade Marks: EU Law

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what assessment his Department has made of the effect of Council Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 on the Community trade mark, on UK trade mark institutions; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: Council Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 on the Community trade mark makes no changes that have legal effect. Instead it renumbers the regulation on trade marks, and brings into one place the amendments previously made to it. This codification therefore makes it easier for the regulation to be read. We have been told that the codification will necessitate the rewriting of some legal texts and guidance referring to the previous version of the regulation.

Vocational Training

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many persons who passed reskill courses were unemployed one year after the end of the course in each of the last three years.

Si�n Simon: holding answer 8 May 2009
	 Information on the destinations of learners upon completion of their training is not available. This type of information will in future be collected using the Framework for Excellence learner destination survey with the first results for all FE colleges and work based learning providers available later in the year.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Arctic

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of recent statements by the Russian Government on the potential for future conflict over resources in the Arctic; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The Russian Security Council published its Arctic strategy, the 'Foundations of Russia's Arctic Policy until 2020 and beyond', on 23 March 2009. It is important to note that the Russian strategy is not just about militarisation. It also includes plans for social and economic development, ecological security, science and technology and international cooperation. With climate change making the region increasingly accessible we support continuing dialogue on this issue between Russia, US, Canada, Denmark and Norway, through the Arctic Council and other international institutions and within international law, most significantly the UN convention on the law of the sea, which provides the framework for the delineation of the Arctic continental shelf.

Aung San Suu Kyi

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations  (a) he and  (b) the Prime Minister's Special Envoy to Burma have made to the Burmese regime on the detention of Aung San Suu Kyi's physician, Dr. Tin Myo Win; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: Dr. Tin Myo Win, Aung San Suu Kyi's regular doctor, was detained by the authorities on 7 May 2009. We understand that he has now been released but we are not aware that he has been able to see Mrs. Suu Kyi since her arrest.

Aung San Suu Kyi

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in ASEAN countries on the detention of Aung San Suu Kyi; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: We are in regular contact with Association of South East Asia Nations (ASEAN) countries regarding Burma's actions, including on Mrs. Suu Kyi's arrest. We support the strong statements issued by a number of member countries, including Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand.
	My European colleagues and I attended the EU-ASEAN Foreign Ministers' meeting in Phnom Penh on 27-28 May 2009, where I raised Aung San Suu Kyi's arrest and our collective response with our Asian counterparts.

BBC External Services: Manpower

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department has mechanisms in place to ascertain whether the BBC World Service employs former Soviet military intelligence personnel.

Caroline Flint: The BBC World Service (BBCWS) is operationally, editorially and managerially independent of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) as stated in the Broadcasting Agreement between the BBC and the FCO for the provision of BBCWS. It is not for the FCO to ascertain the credentials of BBCWS staff or veto their appointment.

Bermuda: Solar Power

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 21 April 2009,  Official Report, column 560W, on British Overseas Territories: electricity generation, what assessment he has made of the outcome of Bermuda's trialling of solar power stations; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: We understand from the Government of Bermuda that trials of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems to provide power for homes have produced favourable results. Trials have not begun for commercial buildings; although suitable Government buildings have been identified for them. Discussions are under way to allocate land for a small solar PV power station, which will be preceded by a commercial trial.
	In order to encourage solar power adoption, customs duty has been waived on solar PV systems and the Bermuda Government is introducing a rebate programme with a cash back scheme for customers who install and operate them, and making the approval process easier and faster.

British Overseas Territories: Borders

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance his Department has provided to the UK Overseas Territories in respect of border  (a) patrol and  (b) enforcement in the last 12 months.

Gillian Merron: In the last 12 months the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has provided funding through its Overseas Territories Programme Fund to the UK Overseas Territories (OTs) towards the costs of the following projects linked to border patrol and enforcement:
	An aviation/maritime security supervisor's workshop to provide management training and threat/technical updates to supervisors of international sea-port and airport check point operations
	A Caribbean Regional Maritime Training Co-ordinator whose remit covers interdiction and border management training
	A multi agency threat and risk assessment programme to identify and mitigate risks from criminal activity and terrorism in the OTs. The programme led to the creation of a committee and subsequently a risk register for each Caribbean OT, together with action plans to reduce areas of significant risk that include sea and airports
	A Chief Immigration Officers' Regional Conference to educate and foster close working relationships, improve and enhance information and intelligence exchange between the Overseas Territories Chief Immigration Officers and regional partners
	The Overseas Territories Regional Criminal Intelligence System (OTRCIS); a networked computer system that provides the police, customs and immigration departments of the UK's Caribbean OTs with a crime intelligence and information analysis secure data system.
	In addition, the Overseas Territories Programme Fund supports an Overseas Territories Law Enforcement Adviser and Regional Prison Reform Co-ordinator based in Miami and Southern Ocean Police and Prison Advisers.
	The FCO did not assist Gibraltar in respect of her border patrol or enforcement.

British Overseas Territories: Crimes of Violence

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many violent crimes were committed against British tourists in  (a) Bermuda,  (b) the Turks and Caicos Islands and  (c) the Cayman Islands in each of the last five years.

Gillian Merron: The Bermuda Police Service and the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service do not record crime statistics according to nationality and are therefore unable to supply this information. The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force recorded one violent crime against a British citizen in 2008. He had been resident in the territory for more than three years before the incident.

British Overseas Territories: Environment Protection

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which international environmental treaties bind one or more UK Overseas Territories; and what targets each British Territory is required to meet in terms of emissions under the terms of each treaty.

Gillian Merron: Details of the international environmental treaties to which the UK Overseas Territories are bound are publicly available through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website:
	http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/about-the-fco/publications/treaties/uk-overseas-territories/browse-bv-subject/environment-wildlife.
	Texts of the treaties to which the UK is party can be found on the same website at:
	http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/about-the-fco/publications/treaty-command-papers-ems/treaty-command-papers-by-subiect/environment-misc.
	The text of the one environmental treaty to which the Overseas Territories are bound but the UK is not party can be found through the UN website at:
	http://daccessdds.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N95/274/67/PDF/N9527467.pdf?0penElement.

British Overseas Territories: Environment Protection

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 7 May 2009,  Official Report, column 357W, on British Overseas Territories: environment protection, what projects were funded from the Overseas Territories Environment programme in  (a) Montserrat and  (b) Bermuda.

Gillian Merron: The following projects were funded from the Overseas Territories Environment Programme in
	 Montserrat:
	Establishing a botanical garden
	Increasing Montserrat's capacity to manage protected areas and conserve biodiversity
	Environmental education project
	Economic valuation of Centre Hills
	Strengthening capacity for species action planning
	Conservation and Environmental Management Act implementation
	Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species implementation
	 Bermuda:
	Somerset Long Bay Nature Reserve restoration, enhancement and long-term management plan
	Development of Species and Habitat Recovery Plans, and Capacity Building for Implementation
	Environmental education and woodland conservation
	Develop and populate map-based interactive global biodiversity information dissemination for Bermuda
	Habitat and native species restoration in Bermuda National Trust nature reserves
	Saltus Island Project
	Bermuda environmental evaluation
	Development of an invasive species action plan for Bermuda.

British Overseas Territories: Environment Protection

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 7 May 2009,  Official Report, column 358W, on British Overseas Territories: environment protection, what steps are planned to be taken in the British Territories in the Caribbean under the project to enhance capacity for adaptation to climate change.

Michael Foster: I have been asked to reply.
	This DFID-funded project is managed by the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC).
	It is expected that by the end of the project the five UK Overseas Territories in the Caribbean (Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Cayman, Montserrat and Turks and Caicos Islands) will have developed national climate change adaptation strategies and public awareness and outreach programmes, and initiated the implementation of these.
	It is also expected that each participating territory will have developed the capacity to engage with regional and international climate change programmes, and to benefit from and contribute to the work of the relevant regional institutions.

British Overseas Territories: Environment Protection

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which UK Overseas Territories are signatories to the Kyoto Protocol.

Gillian Merron: This information is publicly available through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website at:
	http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/about-the-fco/publications/treaties/uk-overseas-territories/browse-by-date/1991-2004
	and also on the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change website:
	http://unfccc.int/kyoto_protocol/status_of_ratification/items/2613.php.

British Overseas Territories: Human Trafficking

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department has taken to counter human trafficking in the UK Overseas Territories.

Gillian Merron: Some of the UK assisted projects relating to border controls and enforcement would also assist the Overseas Territories' efforts to counter human trafficking. In addition, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) organised and funded a training course for Overseas Territory and FCO immigration staff held in the British Virgin Islands in February 2009. The aim of the course was to enhance the officials' immigration knowledge and experience, and it included training about human trafficking.

British Overseas Territories: Young Offenders

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many of the personal records on the Overseas Territories Regional Crime Intelligence System relate to persons aged 18 and under.

Gillian Merron: The number of records on the Overseas Territories Criminal Intelligence System that relate to persons aged 18 and under is 4,376.

Council of Ministers

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many A points were approved in the Council of Ministers in 2008.

Caroline Flint: The total number of A points adopted by the various Council formations during 2008 is 1099. These figures come from the Council Secretariat and can be broken down as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			 January 30 
			 February 80 
			 March 58 
			 April 91 
			 May 68 
			 June 147 
			 July 117 
			 August 0 
			 September 84 
			 October 101 
			 November 156 
			 December 167 
			 Total 1,099

Cyprus: Community Relations

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of relations between northern and southern Cyprus; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The international community strongly supports the efforts of the two leaders to reunify the island of Cyprus. Last month, the UN Security Council
	strongly urged the leaders to increase the momentum in the negotiations to ensure the full exploitation of this opportunity.
	We are pleased that the two leaders have since intensified their efforts, agreeing to meet more frequently. We welcome the progress already made both in the talks and in confidence building measures. We applaud the recent launch of the bicommunal sub-committee on crime and criminal matters, which will help the fight against organised crime by sharing information. We look forward to early progress on all other confidence building measures agreed between the leaders. The leaders face many challenges but we are confident that, with flexibility and compromise on both sides, they will be able to resolve this long-standing issue, setting an example to the world and reaping the many economic, social and political benefits that a settlement will bring to all Cypriots. It is important that all Cypriots, not just politicians, come together to help create the right environment for a solution.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Armed Conflict

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo on the detention and trial of General Nkunda; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: Our ambassador in Kinshasa has discussed the future of Laurent Nkunda, who remains in detention in Rwanda, at recent meetings with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Foreign Minister. Rwandan and DRC officials are looking at the handling of this issue, which the Foreign Minister has assured us will not impede the normalisation of relations between the two states.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Natural Resources

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the effect on the human rights situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo of the exploitation of and trade in minerals in that country; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) natural resources have the potential to bring prosperity to the country and help improve the quality of life for people living there through better revenue collection and the creation of wealth and jobs. However, a proportion of those resources are controlled by militias and ill-disciplined members of the DRC armed forces who commit many of the abuses suffered by civilians and who fund themselves, in part, by trading minerals. This is one of a range of factors contributing to the poor standard of human rights in DRC. Better regulatory control over the trade in minerals from DRC and effective measures to discourage transactions which benefit militia groups there, will help improve the human rights situation. We are already working with our partners across Whitehall and internationally to identify ways of achieving this.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Natural Resources

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on proposed further investigations by the UN Group of Experts on the Democratic Republic of Congo of the exploitation of natural resources to finance armed groups in that country.

Gillian Merron: We strongly support the continued work of the UN Group of Experts. The arms embargo and sanctions regime in place in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are a necessary part of the effort to isolate illegal armed groups, limit the support they receive and reduce the threat they pose to civilians in DRC. The work of the Group of Experts is essential to monitor compliance with the terms of the embargo. Individuals and entities who support illegal militias in eastern DRC through illicit trade in natural resources may now be made subject to sanctions. It is appropriate that the UN Group of Experts should devote some of their effort to investigating such cases.

Democratic Republic of Congo: War Crimes

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department has met the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Democratic Republic of Congo to discuss the indictment of Bosco Ntaganda by the International Criminal Court in the last six months.

Gillian Merron: It is the responsibility of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Government, and not of the UN mission in DRC, to bring Bosco Ntaganda before the International Criminal Court.
	Our ambassador in Kinshasa discussed the arrest warrant at a meeting with the Secretary-General's Special Representative, Alan Doss, in January 2009. He received assurances that the UN mission would support the DRC Government in carrying out the warrant.
	Mr. Doss met my noble Friend the Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN, Lord Malloch-Brown, during his visit to the UK in May 2009. The arrest warrant was one of the issues they discussed. Mr. Doss has instructed his staff not to deal with Mr. Ntaganda.

Departmental Air Travel

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what guidelines his Department has in place on air travel by its officials  (a) in the UK,  (b) between the UK and other countries and  (c) overseas.

Caroline Flint: Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) guidelines specify 'approved routes' (preferred routes and carriers) for journeys by air. These are considered to offer the most efficient, safe and economical journey to the destination. They form the basis for staff entitlements for official travel. The same guidelines apply to journeys within the UK, journeys between the UK and other countries and journeys between overseas countries.
	For duty travel staff fly in economy class on journeys of three hours or less. For journeys over three hours they may fly in business class.
	Carbon offset arrangements are made by the FCO for all air travel originating in London. The FCO also encourage staff booking journeys from overseas to consider making a voluntary payment to reduce the impact of emissions created by journeys at public expense.
	Where there is a choice about travelling by rail or air, we encourage budget holders to take a range of factors into account including value for money considerations.

Departmental Correspondence

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what procedure his Department follows for dealing with complaints received  (a) by e-mail,  (b) by post,  (c) by telephone and  (d) via his Department's website.

Caroline Flint: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) aims to respond to any complaints it receives, no matter by what route, in a full and timely manner, and to publicise our complaints procedures to our customers. Individual Departments and posts of the FCO must establish procedures for dealing with complaints (for example our guide to consular support for British Nationals Abroad includes information on how to make a complaint on the service received), while maintaining these standards of service. However, information on these different procedures is not held centrally and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

Departmental Manpower

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many non-UK nationals his Department employs directly.

Gillian Merron: All UK-based staff directly employed by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) are UK nationals, apart from a small number for whom exception is made under the Aliens' Employment Act 1955. Each exception must be personally approved of by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary.
	The FCO currently employs 5,400 UK civil servants including just under 900 staff in FCO Services, which became a trading fund on 1 April 2008.
	The FCO employs 10,400 locally engaged staff at its posts overseas. We do not hold central records of the nationalities of these staff.
	The nationality requirements do not apply to either locally engaged staff or to contractors as they are not directly employed by the FCO.

Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what training courses have been attended by special advisers in his Department since 2005.

Gillian Merron: Since June 2007 two special advisers have received training on using the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's mobile secure IT system. One special adviser has received general training on security procedures.
	We have no record of what training was received by the previous special advisers before this date.

Departmental Mobile Phones

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Fareham (Mr. Hoban) of 15 May 2009,  Official Report, column 1061W, on departmental mobile phones, what records his Department keeps on the number of communications devices lost by members of his Department.

Gillian Merron: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office devolves the purchase and safekeeping of these items to its Directorates and Posts overseas. All users are required to sign a statement of responsibility, accepting financial liability for losses incurred through negligence. Losses are reported, recorded and managed locally. The information is not held centrally and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

Departmental Official Cars

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 11 February 2009,  Official Report, columns 2005-6W, on official cars, how many of the cars owned by FCO Services are over six years old.

Gillian Merron: Of the 40 vehicles currently within the FCO Services fleet, 18 are over six years old.
	We are unable to provide any details concerning the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's overseas fleet of vehicles without incurring disproportionate cost.
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport, on 21 May 2009,  Official Report, column 1489W about cars provided by the Government Car and Despatch Agency.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer to my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond, Yorks (Mr. Hague) of 15 May 2009,  Official Report, column 1061W, on departmental public expenditure, for what reason the administration allocation for the Jeddah post was reduced from 902,238 in 2007-08 to nil in 2008-09; how the post in Jeddah is now funded; what reductions there have been in  (a) services and  (b) staff numbers as a result of the change; and what assessment he has made of the effect of the change on the level of services provided to British citizens on Hajj.

Gillian Merron: The administration of all UK missions in Saudi Arabia has been centralised in our embassy in Riyadh in order to streamline support work and to improve efficiency. The budget for Jeddah has consequently been amalgamated with that for Riyadh.
	The Consulate-General in Jeddah continues to offer consular assistance to British nationals in need, as well as a comprehensive trade and investment service.
	The previous post of UK management officer (UK diplomatic position) is now filled by a locally engaged member of staff in line with Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) practice, elsewhere.
	The administrative change does not affect the level of service provided to British citizens on Haj. A dedicated team of FCO officers, from our Consulate General in Jeddah, embassy in Riyadh and from the FCO in London, continue to deliver a high level of service successfully for the 2008 Haj.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer to my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond, Yorks (Mr. Hague) of 15 May 2009,  Official Report, column 1061W, on departmental public expenditure, for what reason the administration allocation for the New York Consulate-General was reduced from 2,361,293 in 2007-08 to nil in 2008-09; how the Consulate-General is now funded; what reductions there have been in  (a) services and  (b) staff numbers as a result of the change; and what assessment he has made of the effect of the change on (i) services provided to British citizens in the eastern United States and (ii) Anglo-American relations.

Caroline Flint: The administration allocation for all subsidiary posts in the US including Consulate-General New York is now allocated through our embassy in Washington, as the hub of the US network of posts. No public services have been reduced in New York as a result of this change and there has thus been no effect on services provided to British citizens in the Eastern US or to Anglo-American relations.

Departmental Reviews

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many  (a) review and  (b) taskforce projects his Department has commissioned in each of the last five years; what the purpose of each such project is; when each such project (i) began and (ii) was completed; what the cost of each such project was; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: This information is not held centrally and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

Departmental Stationery

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department has spent on branded stationery and gifts for  (a) internal and  (b) external promotional use in each of the last five years.

Caroline Flint: The following figures are for financial years (FYs) running from April to the following March.
	
		
			  Financial year   
			  Stationery  
			 2004-05 3,493,880.10 
			 2005-06 2,888,932.57 
			 2006-07 3,137,282.68 
			 2007-08 3,342,288.35 
			 2008-09 3,202,293.50 
			   
			  Gifts  
			 2004-05 8,832.84 
			 2005-06 8,291.46 
			 2006-07 13,831.94 
			 2007-08 13,749.76 
			 2008-09 16,998.87 
		
	
	We are not able to distinguish between branded stationery and all other stationery from our reports. The necessary research would incur disproportionate costs.
	We are also not able to distinguish between internal and external use from our reports. The necessary research would incur disproportionate costs.

Departmental Training

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department has spent on IT training for its staff in each of the last five years.

Caroline Flint: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) centrally spent the following on IT training in the last two financial years (FYs):
	
		
			  Financial year   
			 2007-08 (1)228,870 
			 2008-09 (1)256,904 
			 (1) Without VAT. 
		
	
	These figures shown include training in Microsoft applications, FCO specific tools, the European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) and one IT eLearning package available to all FCO staff worldwide. Detailed figures for the preceding financial years are no longer available.
	The FCO is currently undergoing an IT upgrade. Figures for IT Training delivered as part of this project are not available as they are not individually broken down within the contract.
	Some courses are organised, run and paid for by our posts around the world. There is no central record of training courses and costs; that information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

East Africa: Diplomatic Service

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many diplomats from his Department are based in  (a) Sudan,  (b) Somalia and  (c) Ethiopia.

Caroline Flint: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is currently changing its Human Resources Management Information system. We are therefore unable to obtain the information to answer this question within the required time scale. We should be able to access the system again within two weeks and I will write to the right hon. and learned Member then.

Employment Tribunals Service

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many actions under employment law have been brought against his Department in each of the last three years; how many such actions were brought under each category of action; and how many such actions were contested by his Department at an employment tribunal.

Gillian Merron: Actions against the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in the last three years, under each category are as follows:
	 2006
	10 claims were brought against the FCO. One under the fixed term regulations; one joint sex/race discrimination claim; one joint race/victimisation/breach of contract action; three for race discrimination; two for unfair dismissal and two for unlawful deductions from wages.
	Three claims were settled prior to the hearing; the tribunal found in FCO's favour on six; and one case was dismissed.
	 2007
	Seven claims were brought against the FCO. One for discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation; three for disability discrimination; one joint sex/race action; one unlawful deductions from wages and one for unfair dismissal.
	Two claims were settled prior to the hearing and the tribunal found in FCO's favour on the other five.
	 2008
	Nine claims brought against the FCO. Seven for unfair dismissal and two for unfair dismissal/race discrimination. All nine claims were withdrawn by claimants prior to the hearing.

European Commission

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of senior officials in the European Commission are UK citizens.

Caroline Flint: We do not hold this information. The relevant data are owned by the European Commission. The Government are clear that it is in the EU and UK's interests to have successful UK candidates working at the heart of the EU's institutions.

European Court of Human Rights

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what financial penalties have been imposed on the UK for non-compliance with a ruling by the  (a) the European Court of Justice and  (b) the European Court of Human Rights in each of the last 10 years.

Caroline Flint: No financial penalties have been imposed on the UK for non-compliance with a ruling by the European Court of Justice.
	Supervision of the execution of judgments is the responsibility of the Committee of Ministers. However the Committee of Ministers does not have power to impose financial penalties for non-compliance with a judgment of the Court.

European Union

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to the working groups of which international bodies the European Union sends a delegation.

Caroline Flint: We do not keep central records of all the international meetings and international working groups which the EU and the UK attends and how frequently they meet. To provide these details would involve a disproportionate cost.

European Union

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs at which meetings of international bodies in 2008 the European Union was formally represented; and at which of those the UK was formally represented.

Caroline Flint: We do not keep central records of all international meetings and international working groups which the EU and the UK attends and how frequently they meet. To provide these details would incur disproportionate cost.

Iran: Armed Forces

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the stationing of Iranian forces at the port of Assab in Eritrea; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: The media have reported that Iran has stationed forces at the port of Assab in Eritrea. However, we have been unable to substantiate these reports, and the Eritrean Government has publicly denied them.

Land Mines

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the UK's progress towards meeting the Ottawa Convention's requirements on the removal of anti-personnel landmines from its territory.

Gillian Merron: Under the Ottawa convention the UK has an obligation to clear the 117 mined areas in the Falkland Islands by March 2019. The Government's decision to proceed with clearance of selected mined areas was announced at the November 2008 Meeting of States Parties to the Ottawa Convention. The procurement process to carry out this de-mining is under way. A National Mine Action Authority (NMAA), which includes representatives from the Falkland Islands Government, has been established to oversee this operation. The NMAA is currently drafting National Mine Action Standards to ensure the effectiveness and safety of the clearance operation.
	The aim is to commence the de-mining operation by the end of 2009.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to reply to the letter of 9 March 2009 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton on Ms A. Dunn.

David Miliband: I replied to my right hon. Friend on 8 May 2009.

Somalia: Armed Conflict

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 14 May 2009,  Official Report, columns 922-3W, on Somalia: armed conflict, what reports he has received on the countries of origin of foreign fighters entering Somalia; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: We are aware of media reporting of foreign fighters entering Somalia. However, because of the security situation, it is difficult to verify these reports or to assess which countries any foreign fighters may be from.

Somalia: Armed Conflict

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has made an assessment of the accuracy of recent reports that Ethiopian troops have entered Somalia; and whether he has discussed such reports with the Ethiopian Government.

Gillian Merron: We are aware of recent media reports that Ethiopian troops have entered Somalia. Bereket Simon, head of the Government of Ethiopia's Communications Agency, has denied these.
	The Ethiopian authorities have also told our embassy in Addis Ababa that there has been no political decision to re-enter Somalia and that, unless such a decision is made, only normal military border security operations will take place.

Sri Lanka: Armed Conflict

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what legal advice he has received on whether the recent actions of the Sri Lankan Government constitute genocide.

Bill Rammell: The crime of genocide depends on certain acts, such as killing members of a group, having been committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group. Whether genocide has been committed would depend on a close investigation as to the facts and the motivation for the crimes alleged. Such information is not available at present.
	My right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary have been monitoring the situation in Sri Lanka closely, and have been greatly concerned at the reports of civilians killed in the fighting. They have voiced their concern about the situation and support the EU's call for an independent inquiry into allegations of violations of international law in the conflict.

Sri Lanka: Armed Conflict

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the number of  (a) UK-based and  (b) non-UK-based journalists expelled from Sri Lanka during the recent conflict; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: Our high commission in Colombo gave consular assistance to four UK based journalists who had been detained and deported from Sri Lanka in two separate incidents since the beginning of 2009. The high commission does not keep records relating to non-UK based journalists.

Sri Lanka: Armed Conflict

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's policy is on independent investigation of allegations of war crimes in Sri Lanka.

David Miliband: As I made clear in my written ministerial statement on 19 May 2009,  Official Report, column 73-74WS, we endorse the EU's call for alleged violations of international humanitarian and human rights law to be investigated through an independent inquiry, and for those accountable to be brought to justice. We believe this could play an important role in the post-conflict reconciliation process.

Sri Lanka: Internally Displaced Persons

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the capacity of UN officials to access registers containing details of the internally displaced in camps in northern Sri Lanka; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: We are aware of the continued difficulties that UN officials and aid agencies face in accessing registration lists for the people displaced by the recent conflict in Sri Lanka. In all our recent discussions with President Rajapakse and Foreign Minister Bogollagama, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and I have urged the Sri Lankan Government to allow full and unfettered access to internally displaced persons camps for the UN and other humanitarian agencies including access to the screening and registration process. We fully support the efforts of the UN Secretary-General in this regard, including his recent visit to Sri Lanka.

Sudan: Politics and Government

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 30 April 2009,  Official Report, column 1414W, on Sudan: politics and government, what recent assessment he has made of the security situation in the Chad-Sudan border area.

Gillian Merron: We have received reports that on 1 May 2009 several hundred Chadian rebels from the Union of Resistance Forces crossed from Sudan into Chad, reaching the area of Am Dam and Goz Beida in Eastern Chad before being turned back by the Chadian armed forces. The Chadian response involved aerial bombardment, including within Sudanese territory. The current situation remains volatile with the possibility of further attacks.

Sweden: EC Presidency

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he plans to meet his Swedish counterpart in advance of Sweden's presidency of the European Union to discuss Sweden's priorities for its presidency.

Caroline Flint: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary regularly meets the Swedish Foreign Minister, Carl Bildt and will continue to do so. I met my counterpart, Cecilia Malmstrom in Stockholm on 28 April 2009.

Turkey: Natural Gas

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his European counterparts on the Nabucco project; what his recent assessment of progress on the project is; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The UK sees diversity of energy sources as vital for its own and the EU's energy security. The Russia-Ukraine gas dispute in January this year underlined the importance of the EU obtaining supplies of gas from a wide range of countries. The development of a southern corridor with the aim of bringing gas from the Caspian region via Turkey to the EU is core to this.
	The UK fully supports the Nabucco pipeline project as a key element in the development of a southern corridor for gas and continues to engage actively with EU partners and countries in the region to develop this project.
	We welcome the Spring European Council conclusions which called for the commission to bring forward an action plan for the development of the southern corridor by the end of the year. The presidency's Southern Corridor summit declaration of 8 May 2009 also demonstrated the EU's strong political commitment to work to diversify sources of energy supply.

Turks and Caicos Islands

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date the Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands first informed his Department of his concerns relating to allegations of corruption within the Government of those islands.

Gillian Merron: Successive Governors have reported to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) their concerns about rumours of corruption. The FCO has taken these reports seriously and monitored the situation closely. The challenge has always been to gather sufficient credible information to warrant further investigation. For example, a police investigation into allegations of corruption collapsed in March 2006 owing to a lack of evidence.
	As a result of substantive allegations of corruption reported to the Governor, together with the key role played by the Foreign Affairs Committee in encouraging people in the Turks and Caicos Islands to provide further information, the Governor established a Commission of Inquiry in July 2008.

Written Questions: Government Responses

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to answer Question 271012, tabled on 21 April 2009, on the Shia Personal Status Law in Afghanistan.

David Miliband: This question was answered on 21 May 2009,  Official Report, column 1496W.

CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

Apprentices

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recent steps his Department has taken to help school leavers between the ages of 16 and 18 years-old find employment through training and apprenticeship schemes.

Jim Knight: We are determined to ensure that as many young people as possible continue their learning beyond the age of 16 to get the qualifications and experience they need to succeed in an increasingly competitive labour market. Many will continue their learning in the workplace through an apprenticeship or work based learning programme.
	All 16 and 17-year-olds will be offered a suitable place in education or training under the September Guarantee. We announced in budget 2009 an additional investment to allow 54,400 more young people to take up a place at school, college or with a training provider. This is in addition to plans recently announced to make available an additional 17,500 apprenticeship places for 16 to 18-year-olds across the public and private sectors. Schools, colleges and Connexions services will give young people in Cheshire the advice and support they need to find a suitable opportunity.

Apprentices

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many hours a week on average 16 to 18 year-olds spent on apprenticeships in each industrial sector in  (a) England,  (b) the North East,  (c) Teesside and  (d) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency in the latest period for which figures are available.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Apprenticeships for young people are normally full-time and the hours that each individual spends on their framework each week are a matter for the apprentice and their employer. Some apprentices work part-time. Information about the number of hours that apprentices work and train each week is not collected centrally. We are currently consulting on a specification for apprenticeship standards in England which proposes a minimum number of guided learning hours per year for all apprentices.
	The Government are committed to rebuilding apprenticeships. Since 1997 we have witnessed a renaissance in apprenticeships from a low point of 65,000 to a record 225,000 apprenticeship starts in 2007/08.

Cabinet: Glasgow

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many  (a) special advisers and  (b) officials of his Department accompanied him to Glasgow for the Cabinet meeting on 16 April 2009.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families was accompanied by two departmental officials on his visit to Glasgow on 16 April 2009.

Cabinet: Glasgow

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what car journeys he took in attending the Cabinet meeting in Glasgow on 16 April 2009.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families travelled by official Government car to and from the Cabinet meeting. He also travelled by official Government car to visit Crookston Early Years Centre in Glasgow.

Children: Databases

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 2 April 2009,  Official Report, column 1336W, on children: databases, if he will place in the Library a copy of the Framework Agreement.

Beverley Hughes: A copy of the Business Services Framework Agreement between the Department and Capgemini dated 6 November 2001 has been placed in the House Libraries pursuant to the answer given on 27 February 2009,  Official Report, column 1116W.

Children: Databases

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what data sources are used to populate the National Register of Unaccompanied Children;
	(2)  what discussions his Department had with the Information Commissioner on the  (a) design and  (b) implementation of the National Register of Unaccompanied Children;
	(3)  whether a privacy impact assessment was carried out on the National Register of Unaccompanied Children;
	(4)  what data fields there are in each record on the National Register of Unaccompanied Children;
	(5)  which  (a) persons and  (b) bodies have authorisation to access the National Register of Unaccompanied Children directly;
	(6)  what disclosures of data held on the National Register of Unaccompanied Children have been made to  (a) agencies,  (b) individuals and  (c) researchers without direct access to the Register in each month since its inception.

Phil Woolas: I have been asked to reply.
	Although funding is provided by the United Kingdom Border Agency the National Register of Unaccompanied Children (NRUC) is not administered by central Government. The information sought needs to be obtained from NRUC direct at:
	www.nruc.gov.uk

Children: Day Care

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many child care places for children aged four years and under were available in each London local authority area in  (a) 1997 and  (b) 2007-08.

Beverley Hughes: Information is not available specifically for children aged four years and under. Available information on children under eight years of age is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Number( 1)  of registered child care places for children under eight years of age, position at 31 March each year 
			  Local authority area  1997( 2)  2008( 3) 
			  Inner London   
			 Camden 3,100 6,100 
			 City of London 300 500 
			 Hackney 7,400 7,900 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 1,800 4,800 
			 Haringey 4,900 5,700 
			 Islington 6,600 6,600 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 5,400 4,300 
			 Lambeth (4) 8,200 
			 Lewisham 5,600 7,900 
			 Newham 4,500 6,500 
			 Southwark 8,200 9,600 
			 Tower Hamlets (4) 4,700 
			 Wandsworth 11,600 9,300 
			 Westminster 6,200 4,700 
			
			  Outer London   
			 Barking and Dagenham 3,200 3,700 
			 Barnet 7,900 8,700 
			 Bexley 4,900 6,200 
			 Brent 5,000 6,300 
			 Bromley 8,300 10,800 
			 Croydon 8,300 12,100 
			 Ealing 6,500 7,900 
			 Enfield 6,100 7,400 
			 Greenwich 3,900 8,200 
			 Harrow 4,700 5,200 
			 Havering 5,200 5,500 
			 Hillingdon 5,700 6,600 
			 Hounslow 5,600 5,300 
			 Kingston upon Thames 5,500 5,100 
			 Merton 6,600 5,700 
			 Redbridge 6,200 7,100 
			 Richmond upon Thames 9,400 6,900 
			 Sutton 4,300 5,400 
			 Waltham Forest 3,200 7,500 
			 (1) Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10 if under 100, and to the nearest 100 if over 100. (2) Data Source: Children's Daycare Facilities Surveytotal includes day nurseries, playgroups and pre-schools, child minders, out of school clubs and holiday schemes. (3) Data Source: Ofstedtotal includes full daycare, sessional daycare, child minders, out of school clubs and crche daycare. (4) Data not available.

Children: Mental Health Services

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what his most recent assessment is of his Department's progress in meeting its target of having no children placed on adult mental health wards by 2010.

Phil Hope: I have been asked to reply.
	Section 31(3) of the Mental Health Act 2007, which the Government are committed to commencing in England by April 2010, places a duty on hospital managers to ensure that under 18s are treated in an environment which is suitable having regard to their age (subject to their needs).
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 18 May 2009,  Official Report, column 1238W, where figures were provided for the number of bed-days for under 18s on child and adolescent mental health services and adult psychiatric wards, and these showed that in quarter 3 of 2008-09, the latest quarter for which data are available there were no bed-days for under 16-year-olds in adult psychiatric wards and 2,918 bed-days for 16 to 17-year-olds on adult psychiatric wards. This represents less than 7 per cent. of the total bed-days young people spent on psychiatric wards in this period, a significant reduction from 12 per cent. in 2006-07. We are continuing to monitor progress on this issue.
	The National Mental Health Development Unit is currently undertaking a programme of awareness raising, self-assessment and support for trusts on this issue.
	 Note
	A bed-day is a day during which a person is confined to a bed and in which the patient stays overnight in a hospital.

Children: Protection

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many copies of serious case reviews have been misplaced by Ofsted in each year since 2001; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: This is a matter for Ofsted. HM Chief Inspector, Christine Gilbert, has written to the hon. Member and a copy of her reply has been placed in the House Libraries.
	 Letter from Christine Gilbert, dated 5 May 2009:
	Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, for reply.
	As responsibility for the evaluation of serious case reviews transferred from the Commission for Social Care Inspection to Ofsted on 1 April 2007, we are not able to provide information preceding this date. Local safeguarding children boards are required, upon completion of serious case reviews, to send a copy of documents to Ofsted for evaluation.
	Since April 2007, Ofsted has received documentation for 234 serious case reviews. One set of documents was lost in December 2007, within one of Ofsted's regional offices, and has not been found. I very much regret this. Due to the highly sensitive content of serious case reviews, the matter was thoroughly investigated and a more secure document handling process was implemented across the whole of Ofsted.
	There has been no recurrence. However, there have been four incidents when local safeguarding boards have claimed to have sent documents to Ofsted that were not received. Ofsted has a process for recording receipt of post, which is why we know the Derbyshire documents were received in our Midlands regional office and then lost by us. We have no record of documents from these four incidents reaching any of our four offices and in none of these cases could proof of postage be provided. In each case, documents were subsequently provided to Ofsted and evaluated.
	A copy of this reply has been sent to Rt Hon Jim Knight MP, Minister of State for Schools and Learners, and will be placed in the library of both Houses.

Citizenship: Education

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many secondary schools in England employ one or more teachers who have completed initial teacher training courses to become specialist citizenship teachers.

Jim Knight: The information is not available in the format requested.

Citizenship: Education

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many secondary school teachers in England have completed initial teacher training courses to become specialist citizenship teachers in the last  (a) 12 months and  (b) two years.

Jim Knight: The number of teachers gaining Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) via secondary Initial Teacher Training (ITT) courses in Citizenship for each of the last two years for which data are available is given in the following table.
	
		
			  Teachers gaining QTS Via secondary ITT courses in citizenship 
			   Mainstream  Employment based routes 
			 2005/06 190 40 
			 2006/07 180 40 
			  Notes: 1. Mainstream figures include Universities, other Higher Education Institutions, SCITT and Open University but excludes employment based routes and cases where QTS was granted on assessment-based teacher training. 2. Employment based ITT excludes cases where QTS was granted on assessment-based teacher training. 3. Citizenship includes Citizenship and Business Studies, and Citizenship and History. 4. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10.  Source:  TDA Performance Profiles.

Class Sizes: Primary Education

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps he is taking to reduce the number of five to seven-year-olds in unlawfully large classes; and if he will make a statement.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: We take breaches of infant class size legislation very seriously. Officials will be following up with the local authorities and schools concerned to ensure remedial action is being taken. Local authorities and schools have a legal responsibility to limit infant class sizes and, if necessary, the Secretary of State has powers to direct them to comply.

Departmental Air Conditioning

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many of his Department's buildings are equipped with air conditioning systems with greater than 250kW of output; how many of these systems have been inspected under the Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the results.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Department for Children Schools and Families has three headquarter properties in Sheffield, Darlington and London that have environmental control equipment that require inspection under The Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007.
	Inspections of our three properties are being scheduled and the inspection results will be placed in the House Libraries.

Departmental Air Conditioning

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much his Department has spent on carrying out inspections of air conditioning systems within its departmental buildings in accordance with the Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Department for Children Schools and Families has three headquarter properties in Sheffield, Darlington and London that have environmental control equipment that require inspection under The Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007.
	The estimated costs for these inspections are:
	Sheffield1,859 +VAT
	London2,080 + VAT
	Darlington1,859 + VAT.

Departmental Marketing

Ann Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much has been spent by his Department on advertising in weekly and regional newspapers in the last five years.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Since January 2004 the Department, and its predecessor (Department for Education and Skills), has spent 1,478,364 on advertising in weekly and regional newspapers.

Departmental Pay

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much his Department paid in end-of-year performance bonuses to  (a) all staff and  (b) senior Civil Service staff in 2008-09; and how many such payments were made.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Information on non-consolidated payments is as follows:
	All staff bonuses (below senior civil service): 1.070 million
	Senior civil service bonuses: 0.78 million
	Number of staff awarded bonuses: 1,403
	All of these payments were made from and funded within existing pay bill controls. Payments to senior civil servants are based on recommendations of the Senior Salaries Review Body.

European Co-operation

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what activities have been undertaken by his Department's Euro Minister in that capacity.

Jim Knight: Ministers from this Department represent the UK at the regular meetings of EU Education and Youth Councils, and at informal meetings of EU Education Ministers.
	In 2009, the Under-Secretary of State for Children Schools and Families, my hon. Friend the Member for Portsmouth, North (Sarah McCarthy-Fry) attended Youth Council on 16 February. I attended an informal meeting of EU Education Ministers in Prague on 22-23 March, at which we discussed a Czech presidency paper about the role of education for recovery and long term development; and the issue of fostering stronger links between education institutions and employers.
	I also attended EU Education and Youth Council in Brussels on 11-12 May which discussed the future EU Youth Co-operation Framework. We also agreed conclusions on improving partnerships between educational institutions and employers; and on a new strategic framework for co-operation between member states in education and training in Europe in the period up to 2020.

Education Maintenance Allowance

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what his most recent estimate is of the number of children in households with annual income above 30,810 in receipt of education maintenance allowance (EMA) under the EMA guarantee.

Jim Knight: The EMA guarantee was introduced in the current academic year of 2008/09 and relates to entitlement in future years. No young person will receive EMA under the guarantee before academic year 2009/10.
	Under the terms of the guarantee, a successful assessment of eligibility based on household income will entitle the learner to up to three years of EMA on the same rate, as long as they enrol on valid provision and keep to their learning contract. Since September 2008, all young people receiving income assessed EMA will be clear what financial support they will be entitled to if they continue in post 16 learning and meet the agreed requirements relating to attendance, behaviour, and progress on their course.

First Aid: Education

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will make it his policy to ensure that schools provide first aid training to school leavers.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education already provides children and young people with the knowledge and skills they need to make informed choices in a range of contexts related to health and safety. Children learn about basic and emergency first aid, as well as where and how to obtain health information, how to recognise and follow health and safety procedures and ways of reducing risk and minimising harm in risky situations.

GCE A-Level: Bexley

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils in the London Borough of Bexley completed  (a) AS and  (b) A-level courses in each of the last three years.

Jim Knight: The information available is given in the table:
	
		
			  16 to 18-year-old candidates who were entered for level 3 qualifications at least equivalent in size to one GCE/VCE A-level 
			   Number 
			 2008 1,303 
			 2007 1,191 
			 2006 1,104 
			  Source: Achievement and Attainment Tables. 
		
	
	Figures are for the maintained sector only: maintained schools and further education colleges.
	Similar reliable data for AS-level figures cannot be provided as the point at which students 'complete their AS-level' study is hard to define. The final number of AS-levels recorded will depend on when, or whether, students decide to 'cash-in' their AS-levels.

GCSE

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what percentage of pupils have no schools where more than 30 per cent. of pupils achieved five GCSEs at A*-C including English and mathematics in 2008 within  (a) two and  (b) three miles of their homes.

Jim Knight: The information is as follows:
	 (a) 128,401 pupils(1,2) have no schools(3) with more than 30 per cent. of pupils achieving five GCSEs at A*-C including English and mathematics within two miles of their homes. This represents 2.1 per cent. of all pupils(1,2) attending maintained mainstream schools.
	 (b) 52,812 pupils(1,2) have no schools(3) with more than 30 per cent. of pupils achieving five GCSEs at A*-C including English and mathematics within three miles of their homes. This represents 0.9 per cent. of all pupils(1,2) attending maintained mainstream schools.
	(1)( )Pupils aged five to 15 years with a valid home postcode attending maintained mainstream schools.
	(2) Excludes 632,931 pupils who do not have any schools within two miles and 355,329 pupils who do not have any schools within three miles.
	(3) Excludes schools reported to be closed in 2007/08 Attainment and Achievement Tables.
	 Source
	School Census 2008 - Attainment and Achievement Tables 2007/08
	The National Challenge programme is supporting all schools below the floor with bespoke packages of support to help schools accelerate their improvements. This will help to increase the number of good school places for pupils, delivering a sustainable transformation of secondary education across the country.

GCSE

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many entries there were for GCSE examinations for pupils from each type of school in each of the last three years.

Jim Knight: The answer is provided in the following table:
	
		
			  Number of full GCSE entries by pupils at the end of Key Stage 4, by school type 
			  T housand 
			  School type  2008  2007  2006 
			 Comprehensive 4,187.0 3,826.6 3,820.6 
			 Selective 227.4 209.0 207.5 
			 Modern 203.3 185.2 185.7 
			 Other maintained 31.0 16.6 15.2 
			 Independent 385.1 384.7 388.0 
			  Source: Attainment and Achievement Tables 
		
	
	The figures relate to pupils who were at the end of Key Stage 4 in the given year and include any GCSE attempts by these pupils in previous academic years. Only full GCSEs have been included.

GCSE

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils  (a) eligible for and  (b) not eligible for free school meals achieved eight or more GCSEs at A or A* grade in each of the last three years.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The answer is provided in the following table:
	
		
			  Number and percentage  of pupils who  achieved eight or more GCSEs at A or A* by FSM eligibility 
			   Number  Percentage 
			   Non-FSM  FSM  Non-FSM  FSM 
			 2006 33,497 844 6.5 1.1 
			 2007 34,728 872 6.7 1.1 
			 2008 37,766 890 7.2 1.2 
			  Source:  National Pupil Database. 
		
	
	The figures are based on pupils at the end of key stage 4 and include results in full and double award GCSEs, vocational/applied GCSEs, short courses and intermediate GNVQs.

GCSE

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many and what proportion of pupils attended mainstream secondary schools at which less than  (a) 10 per cent.,  (b) 20 per cent. and  (c) 30 per cent. of pupils obtained fewer than five A* to C grades in GCSE including English and mathematics in 2007-08;
	(2)  how many and what proportion of children in care with statements of special educational needs attended mainstream secondary schools at which fewer than  (a) 10 per cent.,  (b) 20 per cent. and  (c) 30 per cent. of pupils obtained fewer than five A* to C grades in GCSEs including English and mathematics in 2007-08;
	(3)  how many and what proportion of children in care attended mainstream secondary schools at which fewer than  (a) 10 per cent.,  (b) 20 per cent. and  (c) 30 per cent. of pupils obtained fewer than five A* to C grades in GCSEs including English and mathematics in 2007-08.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Information on children in care is usually sourced from the Looked-After Children database but this is not currently matched to attainment data.
	Data on pupils in care are also collected via the School Census. However, the School Census may undercount the number of looked-after children in secondary and special schools.
	However, data on special educational needs, in care and attainment are currently not matched together in one data extract. Producing that could be done only at disproportionate cost.
	The available data extract does, however, combine data on children in care with Achievement and Attainment Table data. In care data from that source is given in the table.
	
		
			   All pupils  Pupils in care 
			  Number of pupils at the end of Key Stage 4 attending maintained mainstream schools at which fewer than:  Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage 
			 10% of pupils achieve fewer than five GCSEs at grade A*-C including English and Maths 23,733 4.0 16 0.4 
			 20% of pupils achieve fewer than five GCSEs at grade A*-C including English and Maths 34,305 5.9 52 1.3 
			 30% of pupils achieve fewer than five GCSEs at grade A*-C including English and Maths 62,888 10.7 125 3.1 
		
	
	Only schools with results published in the Achievement and Attainment Tables have been included in this answer.

GCSE

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of pupils whose first language was not English achieved five grades A* to C at GCSE including English and mathematics in each year since 1997.

Jim Knight: This information available can be found in the following table:
	
		
			  Number and percentage of pupils( 1)  whose first language is not English( 2)  and are at the end of key stage 4 achieving five or more GCSE's at grade A*-C or equivalent including English and mathematics 
			   Number  Percentage 
			 2004(3) 19,222 (4)37.3 
			 2005 20,690 40.3 
			 2006 22,714 41.7 
			 2007 24,202 43.5 
			 2008 26,328 45.1 
			 (1) Only pupils in maintained schools have been counted. (2) First language is either known or believed to be other than English. (3) For 2004, figures are based on pupils ages 15 rather than at the end of key stage 4. (4) Percentages of pupils at end of key stage 4 whose first language is not believed to be English.  Source: National Pupil Database 
		
	
	Figures prior to 2004 cannot be given on a comparable basis as qualifications equivalent to a GCSE were not included in the calculation of the attainment results.

GCSE

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of pupils of the relevant age did not gain a GCSE at  (a) C grade or above,  (b) D grade or above and  (c) E grade or above in 2008.

Jim Knight: The information is as follows:
	In 2008:
	123,542 (20.7 per cent.) pupils at the end of KS4 did not gain a GCSE at grade C or above
	66,456 (11.1 per cent.) pupils at the end of KS4 did not gain a GCSE at grade D or above
	37,180 (6.2 per cent.) of pupils at the end of KS4 did not gain a GCSE at grade E or above
	The figures relate to all pupils in maintained schools; and include full GCSEs and vocational GCSEs.

GCSE

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families in how many schools  (a) 75 per cent. or more and  (b) 50 per cent. or more of pupils eligible to receive free school meals did not achieve a single GCSE above grade D in 2008.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The information requested is provided as follows:
	 (a) The number of maintained mainstream schools(1) where 75 per cent. or more of pupils eligible to receive free school meals did not achieve any GCSEs(2) above grade D at the end of key stage 4 in 2008 was 29.
	 (b) The number of maintained mainstream schools(1) where 50 per cent. or more of pupils eligible to receive free school meals did not achieve any GCSEs(2) above grade D at the end of key stage 4 in 2008 was 621.
	(1) Schools published in the Secondary School Achievement and Attainment Tables with more than 10 pupils eligible for free school meals.
	(2) Includes full GCSEs and vocational GCSEs only. GNVQs and other equivalents are not included.
	 Source:
	National Pupil Database.

GCSE

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of pupils whose first language was not English and who had special educational needs achieved five grades A* to C at GCSE in each year since 1997.

Jim Knight: This information available can be found in the following table:
	
		
			  Number and percentage of pupils( 1)  with special educational needs, whose first language is not English( 2)  and are at the end of key stage 4 achieving five or more GCSE's at grade A*-C or equivalent 
			   Number  Percentage 
			 2004(3) 1,350 (4)14.9 
			 2005 1,815 19.5 
			 2006 2,460 23.0 
			 2007 3,333 27.9 
			 2008 4,519 32.9 
			 (1) Only pupils in maintained schools have been counted. (2) First language is either known or believed to be other than English. (3) For 2004, figures are based on pupils ages 15 rather than at the end of key stage 4. (4) Percentages of pupils at end of key stage 4 with special educational needs and whose first language is not believed to be English.  Source: National Pupil Database 
		
	
	Figures prior to 2004 cannot be given on a comparable basis as qualifications equivalent to a GCSE were not included in the calculation of the attainment results.

Gifted Children

Alan Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of  (a) primary and  (b) secondary school pupils in (i) each region of England and (ii) Darlington are on gifted and talented programmes.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Department does not collect data on pupils participating in gifted and talented programmes. Through the School Census schools are asked to confirm the gifted and talented pupils they have identified. I have placed in the House Libraries a table showing the number and percentage of identified gifted and talented pupils in maintained primary and secondary schools at January 2008, broken down by local authority and region. This shows that the figures for Darlington are 3.7 per cent. (primary) and 13.6 per cent. (secondary), against national figures of 8.1 per cent. and 13.6 per cent. respectively.

Head Teachers

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many  (a) primary and  (b) secondary schools did not have a permanent head teacher for any period in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Literacy: Primary Education

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what funding his Department is providing to projects to improve literacy in primary schools in 2009-10.

Jim Knight: In 2009-10 we expect to spend in the region of 130 million projects to improve literacy in primary schools in 2009-10. This includes funding for schools and local authorities via the standards fund and central delivery costs of the national strategies (including provision of an education field force and free continuing professional development resources for teachers and practitioners), as follows:
	78 million for literacy and mathematics,
	13 million for our communication, language and literacy development programme implementing the recommendations of the 2006 Rose Review of Early Reading,
	30 million for our Every Child a Reader programme,
	8 million for our Every Child a Writer programme.

Literacy: Primary Education

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many children in England have received one-to-one tuition in reading through the Every Child A Reader programme since its national implementation;
	(2)  what funding has been allocated to the national implementation of the Every Child A Reader programme;
	(3)  what the estimated cost per child of the Every Child A Reader programme is; and if he will make a statement.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: By the end of this school year, just over 8,000 children will have received one-to-one tuition in reading through the Every Child a Reader programme since its national implementation in September 2008. This is at a cost to Government of approximately 17 million over the academic year 2008/09. The implementation of the Every Child a Reader programme is proving to be very successful, with children who access the intensive elements of these programmes making four to five times the normal rate of progress.
	A report by KPMG's Every Child a Chance Trust, published in January 2009, estimates the cost per child to be 2,609. This figure includes the costs incurred by local authorities as well as the national training and infrastructure co-ordinated through the University of London's Institute of Education.
	This Government are committed to ensuring every child learns to read. For most, this will mean good systematic phonics through the early years and beginning of primary school. For others, extra provision will be necessaryprimarily through school-based interventions and our Every Child a Reader programme. We continue to fund local authorities and schools to strike the appropriate balance between whole class teaching and catch-up interventions for those children that need it. We remain committed to rolling out this highly effective programme to reach 30,000 children a year by 2010/11.

Members Correspondence: Learning and Skills Council

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  when he plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Walsall, North of 7 April 2009 on Learning and Skills Council funding;
	(2)  when the Chief Executive of the Learning and Skills Council plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Walsall, North of 7 April 2009 on funding.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: A response to the letter to the Secretary of State, signed by the Minister for Schools and Learners, was sent to my hon. Friend on 27 May 2009.
	The Learning and Skills Council has been focused on resolving allocations for schools, colleges and independent training providers. Letters with revised allocations for 2009/10, including the letter to my hon. Friend will be issued as soon as possible after the period of sensitivity around elections.

National Curriculum Tests

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will place in the Library a copy of all correspondence between the Secretary of State, the Minister of State for Schools and Learners and Mr. Ken Boston between January and December 2008.

Jim Knight: QCA has now placed correspondence between me and Ken Boston, in his role as chief executive of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA), on their website at:
	http://www.qca.org.uk/qca_15838.aspx
	That web page also includes correspondence between QCA and other Government Ministers.

National Curriculum Tests

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what recent assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of standard assessment tests in  (a) primary and  (b) secondary schools in raising standards of literacy and numeracy;
	(2)  what consideration he has given to the replacement of standard assessment tests with a system of assessment by teachers.

Jim Knight: Over the last 10 years, National Curriculum testing and assessment has played a vital role in ensuring that more than 100,000 more pupils leave primary school secure in English and maths. The Key Stage 2 tests provide a robust and objective measure of pupils' performance, and a recent survey confirmed that they are greatly valued by parents.
	We announced last year that 14-year-olds would no longer be required to sit national Key Stage 3 tests, but would be assessed by ongoing teacher assessment throughout the key stage. At the same time, we established a new Expert Group on assessment to advise the Government on the future of testing and assessment and its role in school accountability. The group published its report on 7 May 2009. The group reported that the Key Stage 2 tests are valuable, vital for public accountability and a key part of giving parents objective information on their children's levels of attainment and progress. The group also made a number of recommendations for strengthening the quality of teacher assessment in primary and secondary schools.
	The report and its recommendations, which the Government have agreed to in full, can be viewed on the DCSF website at:
	http://publications.dcsf.gov.uk/default.aspx?PageFunction= productdetailsPageMode=publicationsProductld=DCSF-00532-2009

Primary Education

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what his most recent estimate is of the number of primary school children expected to transfer to the state sector from the independent sector in the academic year 2009-10;
	(2)  what his most recent estimate is of the number of primary school children who will transfer to state education from abroad in the academic year 2009-10;
	(3)  how many primary school children have  (a) transferred to the state sector from the independent sector and  (b) transferred to the state sector from abroad in each of the last 10 years.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: holding answer 8 May 2009
	The Department makes no estimate of the number of primary school children expected to transfer to the state sector from the independent sector, or who will transfer to state education from abroad. Nor does the Department collect data on the number of primary school children who have transferred to the state sector from  (a) the independent sector or  (b) abroad.

Primary Education

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what estimate he has made of the number of primary school places required in England as a result of net migration in each local education authority in each of the years 2009-31.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: holding answer 8 May 2009
	 The Department makes no such estimates. Local authorities are responsible for planning the supply of school places in their area and for ensuring sufficient places are available to meet local needs. When projecting future demand for places we expect authorities to take account of factors that will have an impact on future pupil numbers, including net migration.

Pupil Exclusions

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many pupils in each local authority area were excluded for more than  (a) five,  (b) 10,  (c) 15,  (d) 20,  (e) 25,  (f) 30,  (g) 35,  (h) 40,  (i) 45 and  (j) 50 days in the last school year for which data are available;
	(2)  how many and what proportion of pupils in each local authority area who were eligible for free school meals were excluded for more than  (a) five,  (b) 10,  (c) 15,  (d) 20,  (e) 25,  (f) 30,  (g) 35,  (h) 40,  (i) 45 and  (j) 50 days in the last school year for which data are available;
	(3)  how many and what proportion of primary school pupils in each local authority area were excluded for more than  (a) five,  (b) 10,  (c) 15,  (d) 20,  (e) 25,  (f) 30,  (g) 35,  (h) 40,  (i) 45 and  (j) 50 days in the last school year for which data are available;
	(4)  how many and what proportion of secondary school pupils in each local authority area were excluded for more than  (a) five,  (b) 10,  (c) 15,  (d) 20,  (e) 25,  (f) 30,  (g) 35,  (h) 40,  (i) 45 and  (j) 50 days in the last school year for which data are available.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The information available, on pupil enrolments, for 2006/07 has been placed in the House Libraries. A small proportion of pupils have more than one enrolment i.e. if they move school during the year or are registered at more than one school. The analysis is based on the duration of exclusions per enrolment.
	Figures are as reported by schools.
	It is possible that some permanent exclusions have been miscoded as fixed period exclusions.
	I am aware that the statistics show that a number of pupils were excluded for longer than the statutory 45 day limit for fixed period exclusions in any one school year. The Department is concerned that a small number of schools that have not met their legal duties in this regard, and has written to relevant local authorities to remind them of the need to monitor and challenge schools that have acted unlawfully in this respect.

Pupil Exclusions

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether Ofsted has reported to his Department the outcome of its thematic review of how schools and local authorities are meeting their requirements to provide excluded pupils with suitable full-time education.

Jim Knight: Ofsted published 'Day six of exclusion: the extent and quality of provision for pupils' on 13 May 2009. The report is available on Ofsted's website at:
	http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/Ofsted-home/Publications-and-research/Browse-all-by/Documents-by-type/Thematic-reports/Day-six-of-exclusion-the-extent-and-quality-of-provision-for-pupils

Pupil Exclusions: Disadvantaged

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils have been given a fixed period exclusion for attacks on  (a) pupils and  (b) teachers in (i) National Challenge schools and (ii) schools in each decile of area deprivation in each of the last three years.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The readily available information relates to the number of fixed period exclusions (not the number of pupils) from schools in each decile of area deprivation, where the reason for exclusion was physical assault on a pupil or physical assault on an adult (including, but not only, teachers), and is shown in the table.
	In 2005/06, data on fixed period exclusions were collected from secondary schools only; therefore, the data is not comparable to other years and has not been provided.
	In 2004/05 data were collected via the Termly Exclusions Survey. In 2006/07 data were collected via the School Census for 2006/07. Caution is needed when comparing results from the two sources, which have some differences in scope.
	The National Challenge programme was launched on 10 June 2008; schools are being supported under the National Challenge to raise pupil attainmenteach according to specific local need, including any problems of exclusion. The latest available data on exclusions is for 2006/07; there were no National Challenge schools at that time and therefore data have not been provided.
	
		
			  Primary, secondary and special schoolsnumber of fixed period exclusions for physical assaults on pupils or adults( 1) 2004/05 and 2006/07England 
			   2004/05( 2,3,4)  2006/07( 5,6) 
			  IDACI band of school:  Physical assault on an adult  Physical assault on a pupil  Physical assault on an adult  Physical assault on a pupil 
			 0-10 2,630 8,220 2,940 8,900 
			 10-20 2,570 9,010 2,440 8,370 
			 20-30 2,440 10,500 2,370 9,920 
			 30-40 2,070 9,200 2,040 8,250 
			 40-50 2,010 8,950 1,970 9,090 
			 50-60 1,360 6,820 1,480 7,240 
			 60-70 1,490 8,200 1,620 7,800 
			 70-80 1,420 7,370 1,420 7,760 
			 80-90 1,290 6,680 1,250 6,500 
			 90-100 1,190 5,720 1,060 5,350 
			 Total(7) 18,490 80,700 18,590 79,180 
			 (1) Number of fixed period exclusions where the reason for exclusion was physical assault on a pupil or physical assault on an adult. (2) Excludes city technology colleges and academies. (3) Includes maintained special schools only. (4) Information on fixed period exclusions has been derived from the Termly Exclusions Survey. (5) Includes both maintained and non-maintained special schools, and city technology colleges and academies. (6) Information on fixed period exclusions has been derived from the School Census. (7) Totals for 2004/05 include 73 exclusions where the IDACI band of the school could not be determined.  Note: Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.  Source: Termly Exclusions Survey and School Census.

Pupils: Numbers

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils enrolled in schools in England have been living in the UK for less than two years; and if he will make a statement.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: holding answer 7 May 2009
	We do not hold the information requested.

Pupils: Numbers

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what school roll projections were made for  (a) primary pupils and  (b) secondary schools in (i) the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, (ii) the London Borough of Newham, (iii) the City of Westminster, (iv) Manchester City Council, (v) Birmingham City Council and (vi) Liverpool City Council for each year since 1997; and how many pupils were recorded on school rolls for (A) primary and (B) secondary schools in each such local authority area in each such year.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: holding answer 15 May 2009
	The Department collects information on current and projected future pupil numbers annually from local authorities, as part of the surplus places survey. The earliest figures available relate to 2003, and the most recent to 2008.
	Tables showing the number of pupils on roll and pupil projections for primary and secondary schools that were provided by each of the authorities listed between 2003 and 2008 have been placed in the House Libraries.

Pupils: Numbers

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what research his Department has conducted on the likely effects on school roll projections in  (a) primary and  (b) secondary schools of changes in levels of immigration.

Jim Knight: holding answer 15 May 2009
	 National pupil projections take account of several factors, including actual pupil numbers derived from the School Census, expected trends in participation for children outside statutory school ages, and the latest population projections produced by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The population projections include assumptions about future levels of fertility, mortality and migration. Details of these assumptions are published on the ONS website at:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_population/PT129_Long_term_assumptions.pdf

Pupils: Biometrics

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how much expenditure his Department has incurred in facilitating the collection of biometric data in schools to date;
	(2)  what steps his Department is taking to ensure the secure holding of biometric data gathered by schools;
	(3)  how many maintained schools in each region use biometric devices.

Jim Knight: No expenditure has been incurred by the Department, this is a decision which is made entirely within each school, and each school finds resources from within existing school budgets.
	Schools are responsible for the security of personal data under the Data Protection Act. The lead agency for technology in schools, Becta, has provided data security guidance for schools which emphasises their legal responsibilities.
	Data on numbers of schools in each region are not collected centrally, the decision to use biometric devices is left to individual schools, and no central funding is provided.

Pupils: Epilepsy

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what guidance his Department issues to schools on the provision of support for children diagnosed with epilepsy; and what assessment he has made of the extent to which such guidance is complied with.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: There are two different sets of guidance on the provision and support to children diagnosed with epilepsy available to schools. Managing Medicines in schools and early years settings was produced in 2005 by the then Department for Education and Skills (DfES) and Department of Health. This guidance explains what epilepsy is and provides schools with medical support and advice on what to do should a child experience a seizure.
	Including Me was produced in the same year in conjunction with key stakeholders to accompany Managing Medicines. This was published to help schools, early years settings and health providers to develop policies and procedures to ensure that children with complex health needs can access education and childcare. This includes an example of a child experiencing severe episodes of epilepsy having a need identified for a trained learning support assistant at school.
	We do not collect data centrally on how many schools actively use both sets of guidance.

Pupils: Languages

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils whose first language was not English achieved an A level in a foreign language in each of the last 10 years.

Jim Knight: The information available, which relates to modern foreign languages only, can be found in the following table:
	
		
			  Number of candidates aged 16 to 18 at the end of advanced level study whose first language was not English, achieving an A-level in a modern foreign language 
			   Number 
			 2003 1,360 
			 2004 1,384 
			 2005 1,571 
			 2006 1,302 
			 2007 1,553 
			 2008 1,651 
			  Source: National Pupil Database 
		
	
	Figures prior to 2003 have not been provided as post-16 attainment matched to pupil characteristics is not available for earlier years.
	These figures are for pupils aged 16 to 18 in maintained schools onlypupil characteristics matched to attainment are not available for independent schools or Further Education Colleges.

Pupils: Per Capita Costs

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the average spending per pupil was in  (a) mainstream primary schools,  (b) mainstream secondary schools,  (c) special schools,  (d) pupil referral units and  (e) academies in each local authority in each year since 1997.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The average spending per pupil in  (a) mainstream primary schools,  (b) mainstream secondary schools,  (c) special schools and  (d) pupil referral units since 1997 is shown in a table, which will be placed in the House Libraries.
	The average spending per pupil for academies in each local authority in each year since 1997 is not available for individual local authority areas. However, the national funding per pupil for academies, for financial years currently available are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Financial year  Per pupil () 
			 2003-04 4,294 
			 2004-05 4,469 
			 2005-06 4,203 
			 2006-07 4,600 
			 2007-08 5,001 
			 2008-09 5,344 
			  Notes: 1. Certain elements of funding such as start-up and VAT grants have been omitted to make the figures better comparable with those for maintained schools. 2. For each academy, the largest element of funding (the school budget share) is calculated by using the relevant local authority formula so that funding is equivalent to that received by a maintained school with identical characteristics.

Pupils: Per Capita Costs

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the per capita spend per child in  (a) primary and  (b) secondary schools was in each local education authority area in England in (i) 1997 and (ii) 2007-08.

Jim Knight: The per capita spend per child in  (a) primary and  (b) secondary schools for each local education authority area in England for (i) 1997 and (ii) 2007-08 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  School based expenditure per pupil in local authority maintained primary and secondary schools (1997-98 and 2007-08) 
			   1997-98  2007-08 
			   LA maintained pre-primary and  primary  schools  LA maintained secondary schools  LA maintained primary schools  LA maintained secondary schools 
			 England 1,740 2,360 3,580 4,620 
			  
			 Barking and Dagenham 1,970 2,650 3,790 5,690 
			 Barnet 1,860 2,640 4,040 5,090 
			 Barnsley 1,560 2,220 3,590 4,440 
			 Bath and NE Somerset 1,720 2,360 3,360 4,150 
			 Bedfordshire 1,750 2,240 3,500 4,090 
			 Berkshire 1,610 2,320   
			 Bexley 1,590 2,350 3,440 4,660 
			 Birmingham 1,940 2,590 3,950 5,230 
			 Blackburn with Darwen   3,580 4,930 
			 Blackpool   3,530 4,420 
			 Bolton 1,750 2,330 3,350 4,660 
			 Bournemouth 1,480 2,210 3,270 4,240 
			 Bracknell Forest   3,230 4,430 
			 Bradford 2,140 1,640 3,740 4,830 
			 Brent 2,030 3,850 4,130 5,690 
			 Brighton and Hove 1,550 2,310 3,240 4,620 
			 Bromley 1,720 2,570 3,300 4,610 
			 Buckinghamshire 1,630 2,290 3,280 4,220 
			 Bury 1,490 2,160 3,250 4,290 
			 Calderdale 1,660 2,510 3,550 4,560 
			 Cambridgeshire pre LGR 1,580 2,270   
			 Cambridgeshire   3,280 4,210 
			 Camden 2,390 3,160 4,960 6,280 
			 Cheshire pre LGR 1,710 2,310   
			 Cheshire   3,390 4,300 
			 City of Bristol 1,810 2,570 3,460 4,990 
			 City of Kingston-upon-Hull 1,680 2,280 3,590 4,770 
			 City of London 3,810 0 6,240 0 
			 City of Nottingham   4,030 5,270 
			 City of Peterborough   3,590 4,960 
			 City of Plymouth   3,400 4,510 
			 Cornwall 1,670 2,320 3,380 4,410 
			 Coventry 1,800 2,500 3,640 4,850 
			 Croydon 1,910 2,700 3,720 4,870 
			 Cumbria 1,860 2,500 3,590 4,510 
			 Darlington 1,420 2,070 3,440 4,610 
			 Derby 1,670 2,550 3,590 4,590 
			 Derbyshire 1,580 2,300 3,340 4,320 
			 Pre LGR Devon 1,630 2,310   
			 Devon   3,390 4,240 
			 Doncaster 1,890 2,460 3,520 4,870 
			 Dorset 1,640 2,120 3,340 4,180 
			 Dudley 1,570 2,190 3,540 4,390 
			 Durham 1,690 2,210 3,740 4,730 
			 Ealing 2,020 2,700 4,020 5,470 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 1,610 2,300 3,320 4,140 
			 East Sussex 1,670 2,350 3,400 4,370 
			 Enfield 1,900 2,630 4,010 5,080 
			 Essex pre LGR 1,740 2,580   
			 Essex   3,440 4,550 
			 Gateshead 1,700 2,300 3,550 4,590 
			 Gloucestershire 1,640 2,260 3,380 4,270 
			 Greenwich 2,190 2,700 4,440 6,030 
			 Hackney 2,420 3,070 5,230 6,970 
			 Halton   3,680 5,030 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 2,520 3,400 4,690 6,070 
			 Hampshire 1,700 2,330 3,410 4,320 
			 Haringey 2,360 3,170 4,370 5,870 
			 Harrow 2,140 2,860 3,860 5,540 
			 Hartlepool 1,500 2,150 3,810 4,820 
			 Havering 1,750 2,720 3,550 5,000 
			 Hereford and Worcester 1,660 2,200   
			 Herefordshire   3,470 4,280 
			 Hertfordshire 1,760 2,520 3,310 4,490 
			 Hillingdon 1,730 2,720 3,890 5,250 
			 Hounslow 2,060 2,670 3,910 5,190 
			 Isle of Wight 1,800 2,200 3,830 4,360 
			 Isles of Scilly 2,560 4,570 7,670 0 
			 Islington 2,340 3,170 4,950 6,010 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 2,650 3,410 5,130 6,640 
			 Kent pre LGR 1,700 2,420   
			 Kent   3,290 4,510 
			 Kingston-upon-Thames 1,830 2,480 3,780 4,830 
			 Kirklees 1,650 2,260 3,800 4,600 
			 Knowsley 1,700 2,260 3,600 5,250 
			 Lambeth 2,810 3,290 5,060 6,480 
			 Lancashire pre LGR 1,670 2,400   
			 Lancashire   3,640 4,510 
			 Leeds 1,710 2,370 3,610 4,640 
			 Leicester city 1,740 2,320 3,820 4,920 
			 Leicestershire 1,660 2,290 3,220 4,140 
			 Lewisham 2,340 3,050 4,670 6,270 
			 Lincolnshire 1,680 2,510 3,280 4,420 
			 Liverpool 1,660 2,370 4,020 5,190 
			 Luton 1,700 2,190 3,800 4,930 
			 Manchester 1,620 2,450 3,590 5,150 
			 Medway   3,570 4,600 
			 Merton 2,060 2,490 3,770 4,670 
			 Middlesbrough 1,580 2,390 3,750 5,430 
			 Milton Keynes 1,610 2,090 3,470 4,660 
			 Newcastle-upon-Tyne 1,940 2,480 3,610 4,780 
			 Newham 1,850 2,820 4,500 6,010 
			 Norfolk 1,710 2,450 3,540 4,340 
			 North East Lincolnshire 1,600 2,230 3,600 4,900 
			 North Lincolnshire 1,650 2,260 3,360 4,570 
			 North Somerset 1,690 2,430 3,300 4,260 
			 North Tyneside 1,640 2,270 3,400 4,570 
			 North Yorkshire 1,650 2,340 3,530 4,320 
			 Northamptonshire 1,580 2,250 3,230 4,400 
			 Northumberland 1,620 2,040 3,660 3,970 
			 Nottinghamshire pre LGR 1,720 2,380   
			 Nottinghamshire   3,430 4,400 
			 Oldham 1,650 2,300 3,420 4,870 
			 Oxfordshire 1,630 2,270 3,220 4,410 
			 Poole 1,510 1,820 3,200 4,420 
			 Portsmouth 1,780 2,320 3,630 4,550 
			 Reading   3,450 4,720 
			 Redbridge 1,810 2,610 3,520 4,750 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 1,630 2,270 3,620 4,670 
			 Richmond-upon-Thames 1,940 2,550 3,650 5,160 
			 Rochdale 1,680 2,400 3,660 4,890 
			 Rotherham 1,580 2,180 3,560 4,750 
			 Rutland 1,890 0 3,530 4,370 
			 Salford 1,560 2,330 3,480 5,020 
			 Sandwell 1,850 2,420 3,730 4,830 
			 Sefton 1,590 2,360 3,610 4,690 
			 Sheffield 1,680 2,180 3,440 4,490 
			 Shropshire pre LGR 1,680 2,480   
			 Shropshire   3,250 4,220 
			 Slough   3,560 4,930 
			 Solihull 1,630 2,320 3,210 4,130 
			 Somerset 1,700 2,240 3,410 4,110 
			 South Gloucestershire 1,650 2,440 3,210 4,280 
			 South Tyneside 1,560 2,110 3,600 4,870 
			 Southampton 1,830 2,420 3,640 5,130 
			 Southend   3,580 4,610 
			 Southwark 2,330 3,040 5,140 6,730 
			 St. Helens 1,600 2,270 3,470 4,710 
			 Staffordshire 1,580 2,110 3,270 4,220 
			 Stockport 1,570 2,110 3,350 4,250 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 1,450 2,120 3,380 4,520 
			 Stoke 1,600 2,300 3,370 4,790 
			 Suffolk 1,770 2,290 3,510 4,240 
			 Sunderland 1,660 2,220 3,520 4,750 
			 Surrey 1,780 2,310 3,360 4,300 
			 Sutton 1,870 2,540 3,530 4,570 
			 Swindon 1,580 2,180 3,230 4,210 
			 Tameside 1,590 2,190 3,290 4,340 
			 Telford and Wrekin   3,260 4,550 
			 Thurrock   3,490 4,480 
			 Torbay   3,300 4,530 
			 Tower Hamlets 2,600 3,200 5,500 7,510 
			 Trafford 1,580 2,300 3,110 4,290 
			 Wakefield 1,560 2,150 3,590 4,340 
			 Walsall 1,630 2,240 3,610 4,590 
			 Waltham Forest 2,110 2,780 3,940 5,500 
			 Wandsworth 2,210 2,640 4,540 5,690 
			 Warrington   3,170 4,450 
			 Warwickshire 1,670 2,250 3,260 4,150 
			 West Berkshire   3,390 4,580 
			 West Sussex 1,730 2,360 3,330 4,420 
			 Westminster 2,590 3,050 4,810 6,250 
			 Wigan 1,520 2,310 3,400 4,580 
			 Wiltshire 1,690 2,270 3,260 4,140 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead   3,500 4,550 
			 Wirral 1,600 2,360 3,450 4,820 
			 Wokingham   3,270 4,320 
			 Wolverhampton 1,750 2,500 3,790 5,150 
			 Worcestershire   3,270 4,210 
			 York 1,600 2,350 3,290 4,190 
			  Notes: 1. School based expenditure includes only expenditure incurred directly by the schools. This includes the pay of teachers and school-based support staff, school premises costs, books and equipment, and certain other supplies and services, less any capital items funded from recurrent spending and income from sales, fees and charges and rents and rates. This excludes the central cost of support services such as home to school transport, local authority administration and the financing of capital expenditure. 2. 1999-2000 saw a change in data source when the data collection moved from the RO1 form collected by the ODPM to the Section 52 form from the DCSF (formerly DFES). 2002-03 saw a further break in the time series following the introduction of Consistent Financial Reporting (CFR) to schools and the associated restructuring of the outturn tables. 3. The calculation for 2002-03 onwards is broadly similar to the calculation in previous years. However, 2001-02 and earlier years includes all premature retirement compensation (PRC) and Crombie payments, mandatory PRC payments and other indirect employee expenses. In 2001-02 this accounted for approximately 70 per pupil. From 2002-03 onwards only the schools element of these categories is included and this accounted for approximately 50 per pupil of the 2002-03 total. Also, for some LAs, expenditure that had previously been attributed to the school sectors was reported within the LA part of the form from 2002-03, though this is not quantifiable from existing sources. 4. Pupil numbers include only those pupils attending maintained establishments within each sector and are drawn from the DCSF School Census adjusted to be on a financial year basis. 5. Local government reorganisation (LGR) took place during the mid to late 1990's and those LAs that did not exist either pre or post LGR are shaded out for those years. 6. Spending in 1997-98 reflects the transfer of monies from local government to central Government for the nursery vouchers scheme. These were returned to local government from 1998-99. 7. Expenditure was not distinguished between the pre-primary and primary sectors until the inception of Section 52 for financial year 1999-2000. 8. School based expenditure in LA maintained nursery schools was not recorded in 2002-03 and comparable figures are not available for 2003-04 onwards. 9. Figures are as reported by local authorities as at 12 May 2009 and are rounded to the nearest 10. 2007-08 data are subject to change by the local authority. 10. Cash terms figures as reported by local authorities as at 12 May 2009.

Qualifications and Curriculum Authority: Finance

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the annual accommodation cost of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority has been in each year since it was established, broken down into expenditure on  (a) Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency and  (b) Ofqual; and what premises were used.

Jim Knight: The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) was established in October 1997. Accounts for the authority during its first six months of operation (1 October 1997 to 31 March 1998) can be provided only at a disproportionate cost and are not included within this response.
	The Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill will seek to evolve QCA into a Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency (QCDA), and establish Ofqual on a statutory basis as the new independent regulator of qualifications and assessment. Ofqual has been established in interim form under existing legislation since April 2008. Until proposed legislation comes into force, both the remaining parts of QCA and Ofqual, in its interim form, jointly occupy premises in London, Coventry and Belfast.
	Annual costs of rent, rates and utilities to QCA (including Ofqual) from the period 1 April 1998 to 31 March 2008 are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  A ccommodation costs 
			million 
			 2007-08 4.6 
			 2006-07 4.1 
			 2005-06 4 
			 2004-05 4 
			 2003-04 3.3 
			 2002-03 2.9 
			 2001-02 1.5 
			 2000-01 2.2 
			 1999-2000 2.5 
			 1998-99 2.7 
			  Source:  Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA): February 2009 
		
	
	Premises occupied by QCA (including Ofqual) from the period 1 April 1998 to March 2008 are as follows:
	 Properties occupied by QCA since 1998
	83 Piccadilly, London, W1J 8QA
	Spring Place, Coventry Business Park, Herald Avenue, Coventry, CV5 6UB
	Glendinning House, 6 Murray Street, Belfast, BT1
	222 Euston Road, London NW1
	Unity House, 205 Euston Road, London NW1
	Stephenson House, 158-160 North Gower Street, London NW1
	Newcombe House, 45 Notting Hill Gate, London W11
	 Source: Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA): February 2009

Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what  (a) administrative,  (b) recruitment,  (c) staffing,  (d) building,  (e) ICT and  (f) marketing and advertising costs had been incurred in establishing the (i) Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency and (ii) Ofqual at the latest date for which figures are available.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) has begun a transformation programme, with the creation within its existing powers of interim Ofqual in April 2008; the restructuring of the rest of the QCA as it evolves into the Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency (QCDA); and relocation of QCA to Coventry by early 2010 in line with commitments following Sir Michael Lyons' Independent Review of Public Sector Relocation. Approximately 3 million was spent in 2008-09 on establishing interim Ofqual and relocating it to Coventry by June 2009. These costs include the costs of recruitment, relocation, restructuring, additional staff reflecting the new approach to regulation, and communications. Over the same period, QCA spent 150,000 on restructuring and communications as it evolves into the QCDA.

Racial Harassment: Barnsley

Eric Illsley: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many racist incidents involving pupils have been recorded at Wombwell secondary school in Barnsley in the academic year  (a) 2006-07,  (b) 2007-08 and  (c) 2008-09;
	(2)  how many racist incidents involving pupils have been recorded at Darton secondary school in Barnsley in the academic year  (a) 2006-07,  (b) 2007-08 and  (c) 2008-09;
	(3)  how many racist incidents involving pupils were recorded at Barnsley secondary schools in the academic year  (a) 2006-07,  (b) 2007-08 and  (c) 2008-09.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: We are unable to provide figures for the number of racist bullying incidents in schools as this information is not collected centrally. Our anti-bullying guidance recommends currently that schools record incidents of racist bullying and report these data to their local authority. It advises schools to use the data to monitor their anti-bullying policies, and local authorities to use the data to identify trends and to evaluate area-wide initiatives.
	The Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 places a general, enforceable duty on all schools (and other public bodies) to: eliminate unlawful racial discrimination; promote equality of opportunity; and promote good relations between people of different racial groups.
	We intend to introduce a new statutory duty on schools to record bullying incidents between pupils early next year, and will specifically consult on whether schools should be obliged to record racist bullying incidents and report these incidents to their local authority.

Schools

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of pupils in each local authority area live within walking distance as defined by his Department of  (a) no,  (b) one and  (c) two or more (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools.

Jim Knight: A table showing the number and proportion of pupils who in 2008 live within (a) two miles and (b) three miles straight line distance of  (a) none,  (b) one and  (c) two or more (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools, broken down by local authority, has been placed in the House Libraries.

Schools: Finance

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much and what percentage of the dedicated schools grant was clawed back by each local authority  (a) overall,  (b) for spending by the local authority within the schools budgets and  (c) for local authority central functions in the last year for which figures are available.

Jim Knight: The dedicated schools grant (DSG) must be used in support of the schools budget, which covers both funding delegated to maintained schools and other provision for pupils. The DSG can be used to fund local authority central functions.
	The following table provides details of the schools budget for each local authority in England for the 2008-09 financial year as well as details of the proportion of the schools budget retained centrally by the local authority for spending within the schools budget. Local authority budget data for 2009-10 financial year is currently in the process of being collected and validated by the DCSF.
	
		
			Of which: 
			   Total schools budget (net budget adjusted to show grants gross)  Delegated to schools  Retained centrally by the local authority for spending within the schools budget 
			  Local authority name  Percentage of schools budgetPercentage of schools budget 
			 England 35,387,808,000 31,338,078,000 88.6 4,049,729,000 11.4 
			   
			 Barking and Dagenham 167,893,000 151,763,000 90.4 16,130,000 9.6 
			 Barnet 244,574,000 219,816,000 89.9 24,758,000 10.1 
			 Barnsley 148,340,000 135,686,000 91.5 12,655,000 8.5 
			 Bath and NE Somerset 112,972,000 95,983,000 85.0 16,989,000 15.0 
			 Bedfordshire 284,944,000 257,248,000 90.3 27,696,000 9.7 
			 Bexley 187,490,000 167,024,000 89.1 20,466,000 10.9 
			 Birmingham 928,471,000 858,423,000 92.5 70,048,000 7.5 
			 Blackburn and Darwen 124,443,000 110,693,000 89.0 13,750,000 11.0 
			 Blackpool 94,557,000 80,818,000 85.5 13,739,000 14.5 
			 Bolton 207,738,000 186,960,000 90.0 20,777,000 10.0 
			 Bournemouth 91,023,000 80,426,000 88.4 10,598,000 11.6 
			 Bracknell Forest 70,326,000 59,405,000 84.5 10,921,000 15.5 
			 Bradford 414,661,000 378,096,000 91.2 36,565,000 8.8 
			 Brent 237,660,000 214,983,000 90.5 22,676,000 9.5 
			 Brighton and Hove 144,093,000 123,466,000 85.7 20,627,000 14.3 
			 Bromley 224,310,000 193,044,000 86.1 31,267,000 13.9 
			 Buckinghamshire 346,776,000 297,149,000 85.7 49,627,000 14.3 
			 Bury 123,618,000 109,985,000 89.0 13,633,000 11.0 
			 Calderdale 158,813,000 142,789,000 89.9 16,024,000 10.1 
			 Cambridgeshire 347,173,000 303,684,000 87.5 43,489,000 12.5 
			 Camden 157,452,000 132,777,000 84.3 24,675,000 15.7 
			 Cheshire 453,482,000 400,028,000 88.2 53,453,000 11.8 
			 City of Bristol 225,042,000 194,242,000 86.3 30,800,000 13.7 
			 City of Kingston-upon-Hull 174,768,000 151,751,000 86.8 23,018,000 13.2 
			 City of London 2,185,000 1,588,000 72.7 597,000 27.3 
			 City of Nottingham 195,892,000 160,635,000 82.0 35,257,000 18.0 
			 City of Peterborough 133,794,000 117,858,000 88.1 15,936,000 11.9 
			 City of Plymouth 179,164,000 154,726,000 86.4 24,437,000 13.6 
			 Cornwall 333,945,000 282,132,000 84.5 51,813,000 15.5 
			 Coventry 236,634,000 211,873,000 89.5 24,761,000 10.5 
			 Croydon 236,261,000 206,619,000 87.5 29,642,000 12.5 
			 Cumbria 318,049,000 289,135,000 90.9 28,914,000 9.1 
			 Darlington 65,305,000 57,346,000 87.8 7,959,000 12.2 
			 Derby 173,682,000 159,190,000 91.7 14,492,000 8.3 
			 Derbyshire 489,376,000 431,482,000 88.2 57,894,000 11.8 
			 Devon 413,573,000 375,787,000 90.9 37,786,000 9.1 
			 Doncaster 213,048,000 194,088,000 91.1 18,960,000 8.9 
			 Dorset 253,532,000 220,663,000 87.0 32,868,000 13.0 
			 Dudley 216,621,000 196,440,000 90.7 20,181,000 9.3 
			 Durham 343,057,000 318,309,000 92.8 24,748,000 7.2 
			 Ealing 235,678,000 208,413,000 88.4 27,265,000 11.6 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 212,120,000 188,062,000 88.7 24,058,000 11.3 
			 East Sussex 304,368,000 260,982,000 85.7 43,387,000 14.3 
			 Enfield 264,121,000 235,877,000 89.3 28,245,000 10.7 
			 Essex 919,055,000 817,036,000 88.9 102,019,000 11.1 
			 Gateshead 129,613,000 114,752,000 88.5 14,860,000 11.5 
			 Gloucestershire 379,747,000 330,161,000 86.9 49,586,000 13.1 
			 Greenwich 225,415,000 196,953,000 87.4 28,462,000 12.6 
			 Hackney 179,196,000 147,317,000 82.2 31,879,000 17.8 
			 Halton 91,504,000 82,442,000 90.1 9,062,000 9.9 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 105,793,000 91,130,000 86.1 14,664,000 13.9 
			 Hampshire 771,188,000 655,707,000 85.0 115,481,000 15.0 
			 Haringey 196,506,000 175,748,000 89.4 20,759,000 10.6 
			 Harrow 148,306,000 133,669,000 90.1 14,636,000 9.9 
			 Hartlepool 72,568,000 65,123,000 89.7 7,446,000 10.3 
			 Havering 173,371,000 154,369,000 89.0 19,003,000 11.0 
			 Herefordshire 101,908,000 89,871,000 88.2 12,037,000 11.8 
			 Hertfordshire 784,762,000 701,626,000 89.4 83,136,000 10.6 
			 Hillingdon 203,900,000 187,392,000 91.9 16,508,000 8.1 
			 Hounslow 191,262,000 169,587,000 88.7 21,675,000 11.3 
			 Isle of Wight 88,712,000 77,915,000 87.8 10,797,000 12.2 
			 Isles of Stilly 2,439,000 2,127,000 87.2 312,000 12.8 
			 Islington 145,909,000 122,412,000 83.9 23,497,000 16.1 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 73,711,000 64,935,000 88.1 8,776,000 11.9 
			 Kent 972,054,000 854,203,000 87.9 117,851,000 12.1 
			 Kingston-upon-Thames 103,715,000 94,431,000 91.0 9,283,000 9.0 
			 Kirklees 298,207,000 263,192,000 88.3 35,015,000 11.7 
			 Knowsley 115,962,000 98,920,000 85.3 17,043,000 14.7 
			 Lambeth 201,652,000 170,248,000 84.4 31,404,000 15.6 
			 Lancashire 771,672,000 692,908,000 89.8 78,765,000 10.2 
			 Leeds 499,525,000 458,167,000 91.7 41,358,000 8.3 
			 Leicester City 226,578,000 194,209,000 85.7 32,368,000 14.3 
			 Leicestershire 417,379,000 365,870,000 87.7 51,509,000 12.3 
			 Lewisham 206,951,000 176,586,000 85.3 30,365,000 14.7 
			 Lincolnshire 459,678,000 409,245,000 89.0 50,433,000 11.0 
			 Liverpool 361,438,000 314,426,000 87.0 47,012,000 13.0 
			 Luton 152,145,000 136,816,000 89.9 15,330,000 10.1 
			 Manchester 341,607,000 297,295,000 87.0 44,311,000 13.0 
			 Medway 199,127,000 179,361,000 90.1 19,766,000 9.9 
			 Merton 108,106,000 91,738,000 84.9 16,368,000 15.1 
			 Middlesbrough 94,913,000 83,672,000 88.2 11,240,000 11.8 
			 Milton Keynes 183,901,000 166,873,000 90.7 17,028,000 9.3 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 179,033,000 159,920,000 89.3 19,112,000 10.7 
			 Newham 295,363,000 260,611,000 88.2 34,752,000 11.8 
			 Norfolk 503,342,000 453,901,000 90.2 49,441,000 9.8 
			 North East Lincolnshire 102,773,000 90,576,000 88.1 12,197,000 11.9 
			 North Lincolnshire 106,752,000 91,530,000 85.7 15,222,000 14.3 
			 North Somerset 125,073,000 110,657,000 88.5 14,416,000 11.5 
			 North Tyneside 131,289,000 122,713,000 93.5 8,577,000 6.5 
			 North Yorkshire 388,723,000 349,675,000 90.0 39,049,000 10.0 
			 Northamptonshire 458,999,000 386,823,000 84.3 72,176,000 15.7 
			 Northumberland 225,067,000 192,079,000 85.3 32,988,000 14.7 
			 Nottinghamshire 509,791,000 468,675,000 91.9 41,116,000 8.1 
			 Oldham 188,084,000 165,305,000 87.9 22,780,000 12.1 
			 Oxfordshire 375,858,000 326,615,000 86.9 49,243,000 13.1 
			 Poole 83,938,000 75,321,000 89.7 8,618,000 10.3 
			 Portsmouth 113,816,000 103,369,000 90.8 10,447,000 9.2 
			 Reading 81,566,000 68,139,000 83.5 13,427,000 16.5 
			 Redbridge 224,776,000 204,044,000 90.8 20,732,000 9.2 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 103,824,000 91,521,000 88.2 12,303,000 11.8 
			 Richmond-upon-Thames 100,169,000 85,879,000 85.7 14,291,000 14.3 
			 Rochdale 160,867,000 144,289,000 89.7 16,578,000 10.3 
			 Rotherham 211,127,000 187,787,000 88.9 23,340,000 11.1 
			 Rutland 21,799,000 19,315,000 88.6 2,483,000 11.4 
			 Salford 146,929,000 128,409,000 87.4 18,519,000 12.6 
			 Sandwell 221,236,000 200,523,000 90.6 20,713,000 9.4 
			 Sefton 194,401,000 175,655,000 90.4 18,747,000 9.6 
			 Sheffield 354,638,000 293,489,000 82.8 61,150,000 17.2 
			 Shropshire 180,827,000 147,943,000 81.8 32,884,000 18.2 
			 Slough 112,826,000 101,456,000 89.9 11,370,000 10.1 
			 Solihull 142,536,000 127,511,000 89.5 15,024,000 10.5 
			 Somerset 312,300,000 268,107,000 85.8 44,193,000 14.2 
			 South Gloucestershire 168,581,000 148,320,000 88.0 20,261,000 12.0 
			 South Tyneside 107,971,000 99,629,000 92.3 8,342,000 7.7 
			 Southampton 127,519,000 113,262,000 88.8 14,257,000 11.2 
			 Southend 127,799,000 112,468,000 88.0 15,331,000 12.0 
			 Southwark 189,960,000 164,156,000 86.4 25,804,000 13.6 
			 St. Helens 125,228,000 111,191,000 88.8 14,037,000 11.2 
			 Staffordshire 539,822,000 483,675,000 89.6 56,148,000 10.4 
			 Stockport 166,913,000 146,106,000 87.5 20,807,000 12.5 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 132,046,000 121,274,000 91.8 10,771,000 8.2 
			 Stoke 164,827,000 141,135,000 85.6 23,692,000 14.4 
			 Suffolk 427,824,000 384,381,000 89.8 43,443,000 10.2 
			 Sunderland 191,581,000 177,874,000 92.8 13,707,000 7.2 
			 Surrey 648,839,000 567,897,000 87.5 80,942,000 12.5 
			 Sutton 153,426,000 135,500,000 88.3 17,926,000 11.7 
			 Swindon 124,344,000 108,391,000 87.2 15,952,000 12.8 
			 Tameside 157,679,000 137,424,000 87.2 20,254,000 12.8 
			 Telford and Wrekin 111,618,000 100,073,000 89.7 11,545,000 10.3 
			 Thurrock 103,067,000 87,464,000 84.9 15,603,000 15.1 
			 Torbay 86,060,000 74,502,000 86.6 11,559,000 13.4 
			 Tower Hamlets 277,047,000 241,730,000 87.3 35,316,000 12.7 
			 Trafford 160,750,000 144,001,000 89.6 16,749,000 10.4 
			 Wakefield 218,515,000 201,950,000 92.4 16,565,000 7.6 
			 Walsall 218,357,000 197,972,000 90.7 20,385,000 9.3 
			 Waltham Forest 193,876,000 177,230,000 91.4 16,646,000 8.6 
			 Wandsworth 178,802,000 168,674,000 94.3 10,128,000 5.7 
			 Warrington 135,537,000 120,412,000 88.8 15,126,000 11.2 
			 Warwickshire 331,654,000 297,016,000 89.6 34,638,000 10.4 
			 West Berkshire 116,277,000 104,897,000 90.2 11,379,000 9.8 
			 West Sussex 464,413,000 407,730,000 87.8 56,683,000 12.2 
			 Westminster 110,860,000 94,696,000 85.4 16,164,000 14.6 
			 Wigan 211,854,000 196,606,000 92.8 15,248,000 7.2 
			 Wiltshire 290,460,000 255,322,000 87.9 35,138,000 12.1 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 91,688,000 80,177,000 87.4 11,511,000 12.6 
			 Wirral 235,220,000 211,867,000 90.1 23,353,000 9.9 
			 Wokingham 105,411,000 93,964,000 89.1 11,447,000 10.9 
			 Wolverhampton 194,588,000 179,303,000 92.1 15,285,000 7.9 
			 Worcestershire 345,353,000 311,064,000 90.1 34,289,000 9.9 
			 York 103,824,000 91,032,000 87.7 12,791,000 12.3 
			  Notes: 1. Total schools budget is drawn from local authorities Children, Schools and Families Financial Data Collection Budget Statements (table 1) submitted to the DCSF. This is calculated as the gross elements of any grants plus the net elements of the remainder of the schools budget. 2. The total amount delegated to schools includes the individual schools budget for local authority maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special schools as well as any revenue grants and support for schools in financial difficulty delegated to those schools. 3. Cash figures are rounded to the nearest 1,000 and, therefore, may not sum due to rounding. 4. Cash terms figures as reported by local authorities as at 7 May 2009.

Schools: Playing Fields

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what criteria he uses to assess whether the playing field of an  (a) existing and  (b) closed school is surplus to the needs of the local community; and if he will make a statement.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: When considering an application to dispose of school playing fields Ministers take into account any authorised community use of the land in question. Where any authorised community users would be displaced if the application were to be approved, we expect the application to include a full account of the effect on those users, particularly whether their activities can realistically be moved to an alternative site on terms which do not adversely affect the users. They must also be fully consulted about any proposal to dispose of the school playing fields.
	Any potential future community use of former school playing fields falls within the remit of the local planning process; Sport England is a statutory consultee in that process.

Schools: Sports

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether all contracts for school sport are open to tender; and what the procedure is for potential bidders to apply.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: holding answer 15 May 2009
	Work in connection with the delivery of the PE and sport strategy for young people is carried out by a range of delivery partners on behalf of the Government under grant aid and contractual arrangements. Potential bidders for any contract advertised follow the normal Official Journal of the European Union or UK procurement procedure, whichever is applicable.

Schools: Standards

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which schools have been in special measures for  (a) up to two years,  (b) between two and three years,  (c) between three and four years and  (d) more than four years.

Jim Knight: The following two tables show the information requested. They are based on the most recent data published by Ofsted for 31 December 2008. No schools had been in special measures for three or more years.
	
		
			  Schools in special measures for up to two years, 31 December 2008 
			  School  Local authority  Date of inspection  Number of months in category 
			 Monteagle Primary School Barking and Dagenham 5 June 2008 6 
			 Dearne Goldthorpe Primary School Barnsley 22 October 2008 2 
			 Lansdown Tuition Centre Bath  NE Somerset 2 October 2008 2 
			 Barnehurst Junior (Foundation) School Bexley 9 December 2008 0 
			 Pelham Primary School Bexley 13 February 2008 10 
			 Bexleyheath School Bexley 3 October 2007 14 
			 Eastcote Primary School Bexley 14 September 2007 15 
			 Foundry Primary School Birmingham 6 June 2008 6 
			 Jervoise Junior  Infant School Birmingham 21 May 2008 7 
			 Primrose Hill Community School Birmingham 8 February 2008 10 
			 Yorkmead Junior  Infant School Birmingham 18 January 2008 11 
			 Yardley Wood Community Primary School Birmingham 31 January 2008 11 
			 Conway Primary School Birmingham 22 November 2007 13 
			 William Cowper Primary School Birmingham 7 June 2007 18 
			 St. Aiden's CE Primary School Blackburn 28 September 2007 15 
			 SS Simon and Jude CE Primary School Bolton 4 April 2008 8 
			 Westhoughton Parochial CE Primary Bolton 20 June 2007 18 
			 Buttershaw Primary School Bradford 24 September 2008 3 
			 Queensbury School Bradford 22 May 2008 7 
			 Fearnville Primary School Bradford 8 November 2007 13 
			 Chalkhill Primary School Brent 6 December 2007 12 
			 Braintcroft Primary School Brent 22 November 2007 13 
			 James Dixon Primary School Bromley 30 April 2008 8 
			 Stewart Fleming Primary School Bromley 15 February 2008 10 
			 Burwood School Bromley 19 September 2007 15 
			 Buckingham School Buckinghamshire 5 March 2008 9 
			 Wingrave CE Combined School Buckinghamshire 4 February 2008 10 
			 Mount Pellon Junior  infant School Calderdale 6 December 2007 12 
			 Wistaston Green Primary and Nursery School Cheshire 22 September 2008 3 
			 St. John's CE Primary School Cheshire 24 January 2008 11 
			 Saighton CE Primary School Cheshire 5 December 2007 12 
			 Ecclesbourne Infant School Croydon 26 November 2008 1 
			 Ashburton Infant School Croydon 24 September 2008 3 
			 Castle Hill Primary School Croydon 25 September 2008 3 
			 Oughterside Primary School Cumbria 11 July 2008 5 
			 West Cumbria Learning Centre Cumbria 23 June 2008 6 
			 Millom School Cumbria 28 November 2007 13 
			 The Alfred Barrow School Cumbria 12 October 2007 14 
			 Ulverston Victoria High School Cumbria 31 October 2007 14 
			 Ravensdale Junior School Derby City 16 October 2008 2 
			 Boulton Primary School Derby City 12 December 2006 24 
			 Tupton Primary School Derbyshire 11 December 2008 0 
			 Parkside Junior School Derbyshire 15 May 2008 7 
			 Deincourt Community School Derbyshire 31 January 2008 11 
			 Caen Community Primary School Devon 5 June 2008 6 
			 Willowbrook Primary School Devon 4 March 2008 9 
			 Bridgerule CE Primary School Devon 29 February 2008 10 
			 Colyton Primary School Devon 2 November 2007 13 
			 Highftelds Primary School Doncaster 18 November 2008 1 
			 North Doncaster Technology College Doncaster 21 May 2008 7 
			 Shaftsbury CE Primary School Dorset 12 December 2007 12 
			 Headlands School and Community Science College East Riding 21 February 2008 10 
			 Hillcrest School East Sussex 9 October 2008 2 
			 Bishops Park College Essex 11 October 2007 14 
			 Alderman Blaxill School Essex 24 May 2007 19 
			 Blaydon West Primary School Gateshead 5 October 2007 14 
			 Arthur Dye Primary School Gloucestershire 5 June 2008 6 
			 Cam House School Gloucestershire 5 February 2008 10 
			 Charlotte Turner Primary School Greenwich 18 November 2008 1 
			 Daubeney Primary School Hackney 6 June 2008 6 
			 Grazebrook Primary School Hackney 13 March 2008 9 
			 Weston Primary School Halton 2 October 2008 2 
			 Simms Cross Primary School Halton 25 April 2007 20 
			 Canberra Primary School Hammersmith and Fulham 11 July 2008 5 
			 Winklebury Junior School Hampshire 6 June 2008 6 
			 The Bridge Education Centre Hampshire 21 May 2008 7 
			 Buriesdon Junior School Hampshire 7 February 2008 10 
			 Waite End Primary School Hampshire 2 November 2007 13 
			 Woodcot Primary School Hampshire 28 September 2007 15 
			 Grangeside (formerly Basingstoke School Plus) Hampshire 7 December 2006 24 
			 The Arc PRU Havering 5 December 2007 12 
			 Broadlands Primary School Herefordshire 22 October 2008 2 
			 Clehonger CE Primary School Herefordshire 22 November 2007 13 
			 Francis Bacon School Hertfordshire 15 May 2008 7 
			 Bushey Hall School Hertfordshire 13 March 2008 9 
			 Sheredes School Hertfordshire 15 March 2007 21 
			 Edward Pauling Primary School Hounslow 7 December 2007 12 
			 Hersden Community Primary School Kent 27 November 2008 1 
			 Raynehurst Primary School Kent 12 March 2008 9 
			 Lydd Primary School Kent 27 March 2008 9 
			 Hall Road Primary School Kingston upon Hull 9 December 2008 0 
			 David Lister School Kingston upon Hull 3 July 2008 5 
			 Highfield School Knowsley 4 July 2007 17 
			 North Cliffe School Lancashire 18 March 2008 9 
			 Shuttleworth College Lancashire 28 February 2008 10 
			 Fleetwood Flakefleet Primary School Lancashire 23 January 2008 11 
			 Sabden Primary School Lancashire 7 December 2007 12 
			 Kingsfold Primary School Lancashire 25 April 2007 20 
			 City of Preston High School Lancashire 27 March 2007 21 
			 Hameldon Community College Lancashire 22 February 2007 22 
			 Allerton Bywater Primary School Leeds 20 May 2008 7 
			 South Leeds High School Leeds 7 June 2007 18 
			 Elmete Wood Leeds 31 January 2007 23 
			 Fulhurst Community College Leicester City 4 December 2008 0 
			 Braunstone Frith Junior School Leicester City 18 April 2008 8 
			 Fosse Primary School Leicester City 23 April 2008 8 
			 Marriott Primary School Leicester City 30 January 2008 11 
			 Queensmead Community Primary School Leicester City 31 January 2007 23 
			 Student Support Service PRU Leicestershire 13 November 2008 1 
			 Morton Trentside Primary School Lincolnshire 4 July 2008 5 
			 Hartsholme Primary School Lincolnshire 2 November 2007 13 
			 Belton Lane Community Primary School Lincolnshire 25 June 2007 18 
			 The Bardney CE  Methodist Primary School Lincolnshire 24 May 2007 19 
			 Blueberry Park Liverpool 11 June 2008 6 
			 Parklands High School Liverpool 10 April 2008 8 
			 St. John's Catholic Primary School Liverpool 27 September 2007 15 
			 Buglawton Hall School Manchester 7 October 2008 2 
			 Crab Lane Primary School Manchester 17 April 2008 8 
			 Moston Fields Primary School Manchester 31 October 2007 14 
			 Parrs Wood High School Manchester 31 October 2007 14 
			 Medway Community College Medway 6 December 2007 12 
			 Hillcross Primary School Merton 6 February 2008 10 
			 St. Theresa's Catholic Primary School Merton 10 October 2007 14 
			 The Radcliffe School Milton Keynes 31 January 2008 11 
			 Throckley Primary School Newcastle 14 May 2008 7 
			 Westgate Hill Primary School Newcastle 6 December 2006 24 
			 Richard Rose Central Academy (Cumbria) Non maintained 11 December 2008 0 
			 RNIB Sunshine House Northwood (Hillingdon) Non-maintained 12 December 2007 12 
			 Aslacton Primary School Norfolk 26 November 2008 1 
			 Morley CE Primary School Norfolk 5 June 2008 6 
			 Attleborough Junior School Norfolk 9 January 2008 11 
			 Mundford CE Primary School Norfolk 22 November 2007 13 
			 Costessey High School Norfolk 31 October 2007 14 
			 Terrington St. Clement Community School Norfolk 27 June 2007 18 
			 Buxton Primary School Norfolk 28 June 2007 18 
			 Central Area PRU Norfolk 16 May 2007 19 
			 Earlham High School Norfolk 16 May 2007 19 
			 Swaffham Junior School (ex. South Greenhoe VC CE Middle School Norfolk 2 March 2007 21 
			 West Earlham Community Junior School Norfolk 9 March 2007 21 
			 Humberston Comprehensive School North East Lines 10 December 2008 0 
			 Scalby School North Yorkshire 11 November 2008 1 
			 Risedale Sports and Community College North Yorkshire 30 April 2008 8 
			 The Wensleydale School North Yorkshire 17 January 2008 11 
			 Mill Hill Community Primary School North Yorkshire 15 March 2007 21 
			 Rushden Community College Northamptonshire 4 December 2008 0 
			 Warwick Primary School Northamptonshire 2 October 2008 2 
			 Henry Gotch Primary School Northamptonshire 9 July 2008 5 
			 St. Mary's CE Primary Sschool Northamptonshire 15 July 2008 5 
			 Bellinge Primary School Northamptonshire 6 June 2008 6 
			 St. Gregory's Catholic Primary School Northamptonshire 11 March 2008 9 
			 Unity College Northamptonshire 12 February 2008 10 
			 Vernon Terrace Primary School Northamptonshire 3 October 2007 14 
			 Queen Eleanor Primary School Northamptonshire 4 October 2007 14 
			 Abington Vale Primary School Northamptonshire 17 October 2007 14 
			 Sunnyside Primary School Northamptonshire 18 October 2007 14 
			 Avondale Junior School Northamptonshire 26 June 2007 18 
			 Blackthorn Primary School Northamptonshire 25 January 2007 23 
			 Cragside CE Cont Primary School Northumberland 11 November 2008 1 
			 Blyth Horton Grange First School Northumberland 21 November 2007 13 
			 West Sleekburn Middle (Sec) School Northumberland 1 February 2007 22 
			 Newgate Lane Primary School Nottinghamshire 4 December 2008 0 
			 Sutton Road Primary School Nottinghamshire 22 October 2008 2 
			 Magnus C of E School Nottinghamshire 16 May 2008 7 
			 Ethel Wainwright Primary School Nottinghamshire 25 January 2008 11 
			 Oak Tree Primary School Nottinghamshire 5 December 2007 12 
			 Thameside Primary School Oxfordshire 18 January 2008 11 
			 Dashwood School Oxfordshire 29 November 2007 13 
			 St John Fisher RC School Peterborough 30 April 2008 8 
			 Winyates Primary School Peterborough 7 November 2007 13 
			 Canford Heath Middle School Poole 13 March 2008 9 
			 Learning Support Service Poole 31 October 2007 14 
			 Cottage Grove Primary School Portsmouth 19 November 2008 1 
			 Battle Primary School Reading 30 January 2008 11 
			 Pathways Special School Redcar and Cleveland 14 March 2007 21 
			 Hollin Primary School Rochdale 6 November 2008 1 
			 Balderstone Technology College Rochdale 23 November 2007 13 
			 St. Paul's CE Primary School Salford 19 June 2008 6 
			 Marlborough Road Primary School Salford 13 February 2008 10 
			 Deepcar St. John's CE Junior School Sheffield 8 October 2008 2 
			 Handsworth Grange School Sheffield 23 September 2008 3 
			 Newfield Secondary School Sheffield 26 June 2008 6 
			 Bankwood Community Primary School Sheffield 11 March 2008 9 
			 Highley Community Primary School Shropshire 4 December 2008 0 
			 The Grange Junior School Shropshire 27 November 2007 13 
			 Bosworth Wood Primary School Solihull 23 May 2007 19 
			 Knights Templar CE Methodist Community School Somerset 21 November 2008 1 
			 The Priory School Somerset 6 December 2006 24 
			 Newlands Primary School Southampton 15 May 2008 7 
			 Townsend Primary School Southwark 15 October 2008 2 
			 Goose Green Primary School Southwark 4 March 2008 9 
			 Alma Primary School Southwark 7 November 2007 13 
			 Eveline Lowe Primary School Southwark 22 February 2007 22 
			 St. James' CE Primary School St Helens 20 February 2008 10 
			 Merton Bank Primary School St Helens 25 June 2007 18 
			 Burton Learning Centre Staffordshire 11 June 2008 6 
			 Billingham Campus School Stockton on Tees 31 October 2007 14 
			 Sandon Business and Enterprise College Stoke on Trent 22 October 2008 2 
			 Stoke Minster CE Aided Primary School (was Bishop Stamer CE) Stoke on Trent 29 January 2008 11 
			 Castle Hill Junior School Suffolk 19 June 2008 6 
			 Kirkley Middle (Sec) School Suffolk 6 December 2007 12 
			 Elm Tree Middle (Sec) School Suffolk 10 May 2007 19 
			 Hylton Red House Primary School Sunderland 25 June 2008 6 
			 Epsom and Ewell High School Surrey 20 November 2008 1 
			 St John's CE Community Primary Surrey 11 September 2007 15 
			 Egerton Park Arts College Tameside 17 May 2007 19 
			 Southall School Telford and Wrekin 28 February 2008 10 
			 Chadwell St Mary Primary School Thurrock 3 July 2007 17 
			 The Grays School Media Arts College Thurrock 29 June 2007 18 
			 Upton St James CE Primary School Torbay 15 November 2007 13 
			 The Ruiz Centre Walsall 2 December 2008 0 
			 Brownhills West Primary School Walsall 11 March 2008 9 
			 Dariaston Community Science College Walsall 28 November 2007 13 
			 St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School Walsall 21 June 2007 18 
			 Ainslie Wood Primary School Waltham Forest 10 October 2008 2 
			 The Beaumont School Waltham Forest 9 January 2007 23 
			 Smallwood Primary School and Language Unit Wandsworth 24 June 2008 6 
			 Hillbrook School Wandsworth 23 January 2008 11 
			 Bewsey Lodge Primary School Warrington 20 November 2008 1 
			 Stockton Heath Primary School Warrington 30 April 2008 8 
			 Bruche Community Primary School Warrington 13 September 2007 15 
			 All Saints CE Primary School  Nursery Warwickshire 24 April 2007 20 
			 John Rankin Junior School West Berkshire 4 December 2008 0 
			 Denefield School West Berkshire 4 December 2008 0 
			 The Winchcombe School West Berkshire 7 February 2008 10 
			 Nyewood C of E Junior School West Sussex 15 October 2008 2 
			 St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Worthing West Sussex 17 September 2008 3 
			 Out of School Learning Service, Area B West Sussex 13 February 2008 10 
			 Landgate School, Bryn Wigan 4 December 2008 0 
			 Beech Hill Community Primary School Wigan 16 April 2008 8 
			 Montrose Wigan 31 January 2008 11 
			 Upavon Primary School Wiltshire 17 January 2008 11 
			 St Michael's CE Aided Primary School Wiltshire 10 July 2007 17 
			 Wingfield CE Primary School Wiltshire 13 June 2007 18 
			 Lickhill Primary School Worcestershire 4 December 2008 0 
			 Evesham, Simon de Montford Middle School Worcestershire 15 November 2007 13 
			 Elgar Technology College Worcestershire 22 February 2007 22 
		
	
	
		
			  Schools in special measures between two and three years, 31 December 2008 
			  School name  LA Area  Date of inspection-  Number of months in category 
			 Horton Grange Primary School Bradford 30 November 2006 25 
			 St. Catherine's Catholic High School Calderdale 14 September 2006 27 
			 Maidenhill School Gloucestershire 23 November 2006 25 
			 Cherryfield Primary School Knowsley 17 October 2006 26 
			 St. James CE VA Primary School Northamptonshire 30 November 2006 25

Science: GCE A-Level

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many people took one or more science A-levels in  (a) England,  (b) the North East,  (c) Tees Valley district and  (d) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency in each of the last five years.

Jim Knight: The information is given in the following table:
	
		
			  Number of pupils entered for at least one Science A level 
			   2003/04  2004/05  2005/06  2006/07  2007/08 
			 Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland 221 205 225 220 241 
			 Tees Valley District 672 667 644 619 701 
			 North East 2,455 2,461 2,308 2,337 2,419 
			 England 56,386 58,167 56,072 56,570 58,976 
			  Notes:  1. Figures relate to 16 to 18-year-olds (age at start of academic year, i.e. 31 August) in all maintained schools and colleges.  2. Figures include achievements in Biological, Human Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Single Award Science, Electronics, Environmental Science, Geology and Applied Science.   Source:  School and College Achievement and Attainment Tables data.

Secondary Education

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many secondary schools do not have specialist status; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: There are currently 234 maintained secondary schools which are not specialist and which are eligible to apply to join the specialist schools programme.

Special Educational Needs

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 24 February 2009,  Official Report, columns 755-56W, on special educational needs, what the names are of the four schools referred to in the answer.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Information on the four schools referred to in the answer is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools( 1, 2 ) schools with more than 20 per cent. of pupils with statements of special educational needs( 3)  position as at January 2008 
			  Name of school  Local authority  Number of pupils with statements of special educational need( 3)  Percentage  of pupils with statements of special educational need( 3) 
			 Foresters Primary School Sutton 50 20.6 
			 The Mailing School Kent 90 22.0 
			 The Grange Primary School Sefton 60 22.5 
			 Pinewood Infant School Hampshire 20 23.3 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. (2) Excludes City Technology Colleges and Academies. (3) Excludes dually registered pupils. Pupil numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10.  Source:  School Census.

Special Educational Needs

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of pupils with statements of special educational needs consequent upon behavioural, emotional and social difficulties attended  (a) special schools and  (b) mainstream schools in each year since 1997.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The available information is provided in the table. Information on pupils with statements of SEN and their main or primary need and, if appropriate, their secondary need was collected for the first time in 2004.
	
		
			  Proportion of pupils( 1)  with a statement of SEN for behavioural, emotional and social difficulties (BESD)( 2)  attending special schools( 3)  and mainstream schools( 4) , as at January each year, England 
			   Percentage of pupils with BESD attending: 
			   Special schools  Mainstream schools 
			 2004 37.3 62.7 
			 2005 37.8 62.2 
			 2006 39.0 61.0 
			 2007 41.3 58.7 
			 2008 42.4 57.6 
			 (1 )Excludes dually registered pupils.  (2 )Pupils with a statement of SEN provide information on their primary need and, if appropriate, their secondary need, information on primary need only is given here.  (3) Includes maintained and non-maintained special schools. Excludes general hospital schools.  (4) Includes maintained nursery, primary, and secondary schools, city technology colleges and academies.   Source:  School Census.

Special Educational Needs

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which special schools  (a) he and  (b) Ministers in his Department have visited since June 2007; and on what date each such visit took place.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: holding answer 7 May 2009
	The following table shows special schools visited by Ministers at the Department for Children, Schools and Families since June 2007 to date.
	Ministers have also visited special schools in their capacity as constituency MPs. In addition some of the mainstream schools they have visited also had excellent specialist units to support children with special educational needs.
	
		
			  Date  Schools visited 
			  Ed Balls  
			 3 April 2008 Michael Tippett School, London 
			 23 October 2008 Lyndale School, Wirral 
			 11 May 2009 Two Rivers High School, Tamworth 
			   
			  Beverley Hughes  
			 12 June 2008 New Woodlands Special School, Bromley 
			   
			  Jim Knight  
			 7 May 2008 Wilson Stuart Special School, Birmingham 
			 3 July 2008 Springfield Special School, Oxford 
			 10 September 2008 Brislington Enterprise College, Bristol 
			 23 April 2009 The Orchards School, Greenfold School, Bolton 
			   
			  Sarah McCarthy-Fry  
			 22 October 2008 New Bridge School, Oldham 
			 9 February 2009 Treehouse School, London 
			 18 March 2009 Linden Lodge School, London

Special Educational Needs

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 2 April 2009,  Official Report, columns 1352-54W, on special educational needs, how many of the pupils in schools in special measures were in  (a) primary schools,  (b) secondary schools and  (c) schools in each local authority area.

Jim Knight: This is a matter for Ofsted. HM chief inspector, Christine Gilbert, has written to the hon. Member and a copy of her reply has been placed in the House Libraries.

Special Educational Needs: Finance

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 7 May 2009,  Official Report, column 414W, on special educational needs, what funds have been allocated to each stream for 2009-10; what formulae are used to attribute funds to non-maintained special schools from each stream; by what means non-maintained special schools became eligible for the School Travel Grant; and how many non-maintained special schools are eligible for the School Travel Grant.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Details of estimates of amounts to be paid to non-maintained special schools in respect of funding streams for the 2009/10 financial year, together with the formulae and/or calculations used have been placed in the House Libraries. All NMSSs are eligible for a School Travel Plan grant on the condition that an approved travel plan has been submitted and quality assured by their local school travel adviser. In the 2008/09 financial year school travel grant was paid to four NMSSs.

Special Educational Needs: GCSE

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  at which mainstream schools attended by pupils with statements of special educational need no such pupils achieved five A* to C grades at GCSE in 2008;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer of 20 April 2009 to question 265674, what the names of the 43 schools are; and in which local authority area each is.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The previous answer explained that there were 43 maintained mainstream schools with 10 or more pupils with statements of SEN at the end of key stage 4, where no pupils with statements of SEN achieved five or more GCSEs at grades A*-C or the equivalent in 2008.
	The 43 schools were:
	
		
			  School name  Local authority 
			 Abbeydale Grange School Sheffield 
			 Ashford Christ Church, Church of England Maths and Computing Specialist College Kent 
			 Axton Chase School Kent 
			 Babington Community Technology College Leicester 
			 Bishopsgarth School Stockton-on-Tees 
			 Bristnall Hall Technology College Sandwell 
			 Corby Community College Northamptonshire 
			 Crown Hills Community College Leicester 
			 Filton High School South Gloucestershire 
			 Grange Technology College Bradford 
			 Hampton Community College Richmond upon Thames 
			 Hamstead Hall Community Learning Centre Birmingham 
			 Heston Community School Hounslow 
			 Highgate Wood Secondary School Haringey 
			 Holywells High School Suffolk 
			 Honiton Community College Devon 
			 Houghton Kepier Sports College: A Foundation School Sunderland 
			 Kingsford Community School Newham 
			 Knutsford High School Cheshire 
			 Lincoln Christ's Hospital School Lincolnshire 
			 Littlehampton Community School, The West Sussex 
			 Longcroft School East Riding of Yorkshire 
			 Middlefield School of Technology Lincolnshire 
			 New College Leicester Leicester 
			 New Line Learning Academy Kent 
			 Newsome High School and Sports College Kirklees 
			 Oxford School Oxfordshire 
			 Parkfield High School Wolverhampton 
			 Sandown High School Isle of Wight 
			 Sedgehill School Lewisham 
			 Stantonbury Campus Milton Keynes 
			 Sudbury Upper School and Arts College Suffolk 
			 Swanlea School Tower Hamlets 
			 The Kingstone School Barnsley 
			 The Voyager School Peterborough 
			 Thomas Clarkson Community College Cambridgeshire 
			 Trinity C of E High School Manchester 
			 Ullswater Community College Cumbria 
			 Unity City Academy Middlesbrough 
			 Vermuyden School East Riding of Yorkshire 
			 Weavers School Northamptonshire 
			 Westbourne Sports College Suffolk 
			 Wreake Valley Community College Leicestershire 
		
	
	There are many more schools with less than 10 pupils with statements of SEN where no pupils with statements of SEN achieved five or more GCSEs A*-C. We have used a standard cut-off of 10 pupils with statement of SEN in relation to attainment data to prevent possible disclosure of personal information.

Specialised Diplomas

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many  (a) schools,  (b) academies,  (c) further education colleges and  (d) sixth form colleges participated in consortia responsible for diploma courses in (i) 2007-08 and (ii) 2008-09.

Jim Knight: The information is available on an academic year basis starting in September 2008 with delivery of the first phase of diplomas. The latest information provided by consortia is that: 1,382 secondary schools, 56 academies, 124 further education colleges and 51 sixth form colleges were involved in the delivery of diplomas from September 2008.

Specialised Diplomas

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which  (a) schools and  (b) consortia in each local authority are offering at least one diploma course to students.

Jim Knight: We do not have information centrally on which schools are offering the Diploma to their learners. Information on which consortia in each local authority were approved to offer the diploma from September 2008 is as follows:
	
		
			  Consortia approved for a 2008 start through Gateway( 1) 
			  Eastern England 
			  Local authorit y  Consortium name 
			 Cambridgeshire Cambridge 14-19 Area Partnership 
			 Cambridgeshire HSEP 
			 Hertfordshire Dacorum SAPG 
			 Hertfordshire North Herts SAPG 
			 Hertfordshire SE Herts SAPG 
			 Luton Campus Luton Partnership 
			 Norfolk Extended Rural Norfolk Federation 
			 Norfolk Norwich city (Open Opportunity) 
			 Southend-on-Sea Southend 
			 Suffolk North Suffolk 
			 (1 )Since Gateway 1 a number of consortia have merged or changed names. This list is derived from the original applications. 
		
	
	
		
			  East Midlands 
			  Local authority  Consortium name 
			 Derby Derby City 14-19 Partnership 
			 Derbyshire Ripley and Heanor Learning Consortia 
			 Leicestershire Melton and Belvoir 
			 Leicestershire Melton and South Charnwood 
			 Leicestershire North West Leics 
			 Lincolnshire Boston 
			 Lincolnshire Grantham Partnership 
			 Lincolnshire Lincs East Partnership 
			 Lincolnshire Sleaford 
			 Lincolnshire South Holland 
			 Lincolnshire Wolds 
			 Northamptonshire East Northamptonshire 
			 Northamptonshire Kettering 
			 Northamptonshire Northampton Town 
			 Nottingham City Nottingham City 
			 Nottinghamshire Ashfield District 
			 Nottinghamshire Bassetlaw 
			 Nottinghamshire Mansfield Learning Partnership 
			 Nottinghamshire Newark and Sherwood ASG 
			 Rutland Rutland 14-19 Partnership 
		
	
	
		
			  London 
			  Local authority  Consortium name 
			 Barking and Dagenham Barking and Dagenham 
			 Bromley The Bromley 14-19 Collaborative 
			 Croydon Borough Wide Consortium 
			 Ealing West London Consortium 
			 Hackney Hackney Diploma 2009 Consortium 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham Hammersmith and Fulham 
			 Haringey Haringey 14-19 Partnership 
			 Harrow Harrow Collegiate 
			 Hillingdon Hillingdon Consortium 
			 Hounslow Hounslow 14-19 Partnership 
			 Islington Islington 14-19 Partnership 
			 Lambeth (joint Southwark) 7 Schools LCM The Lambeth Consortium 
			 Lewisham Lewisham 
			 Newham Newham 14-19 Partnership 
			 Southwark Southwark 14-19 Partnership 
			 Tower Hamlets The Hub 
			 Waltham Forest London Borough of Waltham Forest 
			 Wandsworth Wandsworth 14-19 Partnership 
		
	
	
		
			  North East 
			  Local authority  Consortium name 
			 Durham Derwentside Consortium 
			 Gateshead Gateshead 14-19 Partnership 
			 Hartlepool Hartlepool 14-19 Partnership 
			 Middlesbrough Middlesbrough Learning Partnership 
			 Newcastle Upon Tyne Newcastle City Consortium 
			 North Tyneside North Tyneside 14-19 Learning Partnership 
			 Sunderland Sunderland 14-19 Partnership 
		
	
	
		
			  North West 
			  Local authority  Consortium name 
			 Blackburn with Darwen Blackburn with Darwen 14-19 Partnership 
			 Bolton Bolton LA 
			 Bury Bury Learning Partnership 
			 Cheshire Crewe and Nantwich 
			 Cheshire East Cheshire 14-19 Diploma Consortium 
			 Cheshire Vale Royal Diploma Consortium 
			 Cumbria Furness 
			 Cumbria Furness 14-19 Partnership 
			 Halton Halton 14-19 Strategic Partnership 
			 Knowsley Knowsley 14-19 Collegiate Partnership 
			 Lancashire Burnley Pendle 
			 Lancashire Chorley and South Ribble 
			 Lancashire Hyndebum, Rossendale and Ribble Valley 
			 Lancashire Lancaster and Morecambe 
			 Liverpool Liverpool 
			 Manchester Manchester 14-19 Team 
			 Oldham OLLP Business 
			 Rochdale Rochdale Consortium 
			 Salford Salford 14-19 Partnership 
			 Sefton North Sefton 
			 St. Helens St. Helen's 
			 Tameside Tameside 14-19 
			 Trafford Trafford 
			 Warrington Warrington 14-19 Partnership 
		
	
	
		
			  South East 
			  Local authority  Consortium name 
			 Buckinghamshire Wycombe Consortium 
			 East Sussex Eastbourne and Hailsham Federation 
			 East Sussex Hastings and Rother Local Area 
			 East Sussex Lewes Rural Local Area Partnership Board 
			 East Sussex Lewes Rural Local Area Partnership 
			 East Sussex Wealden Local Area Partnership Board 
			 Medway Medway 
			 Milton Keynes Milton Keynes 
			 Oxfordshire East Oxon 14-19 Consortium 
			 Reading Reading 
			 Surrey Elmbridge 14-19 Consortium 
			 Surrey Guildford 14-19 Partnership 
			 Surrey Spelthorne 
			 West Sussex WS Area B 
			 Brighton and Hove Brighton and Hove 14-19 Partnership Board 
			 East Sussex Lewes Rural Local Area Partnership Board 
			 East Sussex Western Coastal Local Area Partnership Board 
			 Hampshire Basingstoke 14-19 Consortium 
			 Hampshire Eastleigh Consortium 
			 Hampshire Rushmoor and Hart 
			 Kent Dartford Wilmington 
			 Kent Dover Deal and Sandwich 
			 Kent Gravesham 14-19 Consortium 
			 Kent Thanet 14-19 Consortium 
			 Oxfordshire North Oxfordshire 14-19 Partnership 
			 Reading Reading 
			 Surrey Surrey Heath 
			 Surrey Woking Federation 
			 West Sussex WS Area A 
			 West Sussex WS Area B 
		
	
	
		
			  South West 
			  Local authority  Consortium name 
			 Cornwall Cornwall Collegiate 
			 Dorset Central Dorset Partnership 
			 Dorset Chesil 
			 Dorset North Dorset 
			 Gloucestershire Cheltenham 
			 North Somerset North Somerset Consortium 
			 Plymouth City City of Plymouth 14-19 Diploma Partnership 
			 Somerset Sedgemoor 
			 South Gloucestershire Kingswood 
			 Swindon Swindon 14-19 Partnership 
			 Torbay Torbay 14-19 Learning Partnership 
			 Wiltshire West Wiltshire Federation 
		
	
	
		
			  West Midlands 
			  Local authority  Consortium name 
			 Birmingham Birmingham South West Collegiate: Lordswood Girls 
			 Birmingham Central Network 
			 Birmingham North Area Network 
			 Birmingham South Network 
			 Coventry North East Federation 
			 Coventry North West Federation 
			 Dudley The Halesowen Education Trust 
			 Shropshire NW Shropshire 
			 Solihull Solihull Consortium 
			 Staffordshire Chase Collegiate 
			 Staffordshire E Staffs 14-19 Collegiate 
			 Staffordshire Tamworth 
			 Staffordshire Tamworth Partnership 
			 Stoke on Trent Stoke on Trent 
			 Walsall WALCON 
			 Wolverhampton Wolverhampton 
			 Worcestershire CONTINU 
			 Worcestershire FORWARD Consortium 
		
	
	
		
			  Yorkshire and the Humber 
			  Local authority  Consortium name 
			 Barnsley Barnsley Diploma Consortium 
			 Bradford Bradford Confederations 
			 Calderdale Campus Calderdale 
			 Hull (Kingston Upon) Hull 14-19 Partnership 
			 Kirklees Kirklees Collegiates 
			 Leeds Central Leeds Construction 
			 Leeds Leeds Diploma Consortium 
			 North East Lincolnshire North East Lincolnshire Partnership 
			 North Yorkshire Ryedale Area Learning Partnership 
			 Rotherham Rotherham 
			 Sheffield Sheffield 14-19 Partnership 
			 Sheffield Sheffield CYPD 
			 Wakefield Wakefield 
			 York City City of York Partnership

Teachers: Males

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families at how many and what proportion of maintained  (a) primary and  (b) secondary schools fewer than (i) 1 per cent., (ii) 10 per cent., (iii) 20 per cent. and (iv) 30 per cent. of the fully qualified teaching staff were male in each year since 1997.

Jim Knight: The information cannot be provided for all the years requested on the grounds of disproportionate cost. 1997 and 2008 figures are provided within the following table.
	The following table shows how many and what proportion of local authority maintained primary and secondary schools in England employed fewer than 1 per cent., 10 per cent., 20 per cent. and 30 per cent. qualified full-time equivalent male teachers, January 1997 and 2008.
	
		
			  Number and proportion of maintained nursery/primary and secondary schools with fewer than 1 per cent., 10 per cent., 20 per cent. and 30 per cent. full-time equivalent qualified male teachers, January 1997 and 2008, England 
			   1997  2008 
			   Nursery/P rimary  Secondary( 1)  Nursery/Primary  Secondary( 1) 
			   Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage 
			 Less than 1 per cent. 5,280 27.9 0 0.0 4,670 26.5 (2) 0.1 
			 Less than 10 per cent. 6,760 35.7 (2) 0.1 6,800 38.5 10 0.3 
			 Less than 20 per cent. 11,920 63.0 80 2.1 12,390 70.2 70 2.2 
			 Less than 30 per cent. 16,210 85.6 280 7.9 15,930 90.2 360 11.0 
			 (1) Excludes academies. (2) Between one and four schools.  Note: Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.  Source: School Census

Teachers: Redundancy

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many  (a) full-time and  (b) part-time teaching staff have been made redundant in each of the last 10 years.

Jim Knight: The information is not collected centrally.

Teachers: Training

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recent discussions he has had with representatives of  (a) teachers' professional bodies and  (b) industry in respect of teachers' continuing professional development.

Jim Knight: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families regularly meets with representatives of teachers' professional bodies and industry to discuss a range of issues. Most recently this has included attending the conferences of ASCL, ATL, NAHT and NASUWT; and meetings with Agony Aunts and Kids in the Middle; Franklin Covey and the Association of Colleges.

Teachers: Training

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what percentage of graduates enrolling on a postgraduate certification of education course held a  (a) first,  (b) upper second,  (c) lower second and  (d) third class first degree in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The following tables show the number of first year trainees for each academic year between 1998/99 and 2006/07 by the classification of their first degree for:
	1. Postgraduate ITT trainees
	2. Employment Based Routes (EBR) trainees.
	Information relating to the qualifications on entry to mainstream ITT courses is only available from 1998/99 onwards. The same information for trainees on employment based routes was only collected from 2001/02 onwards. Figures relating to 2007/08 will be available in July 2009.
	
		
			  Proportion of postgraduate trainees in their first year of mainstream ITT courses by classification of first degree( 1,2) , 1998/99 to 2006/07, England 
			  Percentage 
			   1998/99  1999/2000  2000/01  2001/02  2002/03  2003/04  2004/05  2005/06  2006/07 
			 1st 5.4 5.5 5.8 5.7 6.4 7.0 7.7 8.1 8.1 
			 2:1 45.9 45.8 46.4 47.3 48.5 49.0 49.8 50.7 50.7 
			 2:2 36.8 37.4 36.7 36.7 35.7 35.3 33.8 32.7 33.8 
			 3 4.0 4.4 4.3 4.0 3.7 3.8 3.6 3.5 3.4 
			 Pass 4.0 3.1 3.4 3.1 3.4 3.1 2.5 2.4 2.0 
			 Total with 2:1 and above 51.3 51.3 52.2 53.0 54.9 56.0 57.5 58.8 58.8 
			 Total with 2:2 and above 88.0 88.7 88.9 89.7 90.6 91.3 91.4 91.5 92.6 
			 Class not known/undefined 4.0 3.9 3.4 3.2 2.3 1.8 2.6 2.6 2.1 
			 Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 
			   
			 Total number of first year trainees on postgraduate ITT courses(3) 16,680 16,740 18,200 19,790 21,240 23,510 23,580 23,240 22,320 
			 (1) Includes universities and other higher education institutions, SCITT and Open University but excludes employment based routes and cases where QTS is granted on assessment without a course of ITT. (2) Those training through the Fast Track programme (which ran between 2001/02 and 2005/06) are included. (3) Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10.  Source: TDA's Performance Profiles 
		
	
	
		
			  Proportion of postgraduate trainees in their first year of employment based routes to ITT by classification of first degree( 1)  1998/99 to 2006/07, England 
			  Percentage 
			   1998/99  1999/2000  2000/01  2001/02  2002/03  2003/04  2004/05  2005/06  2006/07 
			 1st n/a n/a n/a 6.2 8.3 7.2 8.5 8.6 9.3 
			 2:1 n/a n/a n/a 32.8 40.2 40.1 41.0 44.2 47.6 
			 2:2 n/a n/a n/a 28.5 32.0 35.2 34.5 34.0 31.7 
			 3 n/a n/a n/a 5.0 5.5 5.5 5.9 5.7 4.9 
			 Pass n/a n/a n/a 5.9 9.1 8.0 10.1 7.5 6.5 
			 Total with 2:1 and above n/a n/a n/a 39.0 48.5 47.4 49.5 52.8 56.9 
			 Total with 2:2 and above n/a n/a n/a 67.6 80.5 82.5 84.0 86.8 88.6 
			 Class not known/undefined n/a n/a n/a 21.6 4.9 4.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 
			 Total n/a n/a n/a 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 
			   
			 Total number of first year trainees on postgraduate ITT courses(2) n/a n/a n/a 2,740 3,560 4,940 4,970 5,250 5,230 
			 n/a = not available (1) Excludes universities and other higher education institutions, SCITT and Open University and cases where QTS is granted on assessment without a course of ITT. (2) Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10.  Source: TDA's Performance Profiles

Teachers: Vacancies

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the school teacher vacancy rate was in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: Full-time vacancy rates in local authority maintained schools in each of the last five years can be found in Table 6 of the Statistical First Release School Workforce in England (including pupil: teacher ratios and pupil: adult ratios), January 2009 (Provisional). This can be accessed from the following link:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000844

Truancy

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many school days were lost to truancy in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Information is collected on authorised and unauthorised absence.
	Unauthorised absence is absence without leave from a teacher or other authorised representative of the school. This includes all unexplained or unjustified absences, such as lateness, holidays during term time not authorised by the school, absence where reason is not yet established and truancy. Information collected by the Department on absence is a more comprehensive measure of children's missed schooling. Our focus is on reducing all forms of absence, not just a small subset. The issue is not whether the pupil had permission to be absent; it is how much absence the pupil has.
	The number of days lost due to absence is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Primary, secondary and special schools( 1, 2) , number of days of absence( 3) , 2007/08, England 
			   Number of days  Absence rate 
			 Authorised absence 50,057,570 5.28 
			 Unauthorised absence 9,627,620 1.01 
			 Overall absence 59,685,190 6.29 
			 Total possible days 948,908,914  
			 (1) Includes city technology colleges and academies. (2) Includes maintained and non-maintained special schools. Excludes general hospital schools. (3) Includes pupils age five to 15 who were on roll for at least one session from the start of the school year up until 23 May 2008, excluding boarders.  Note: Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.  Source: School Census.

Truancy

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many parents in  (a) Lancashire and  (b) England have appeared in court on charges related to unauthorised absences from school of their children in the last (i) six, (ii) 12 and (iii) 24 months.

Jim Knight: The Ministry of Justice collects data for England and Wales on prosecutions brought against parents under the Education Act 1996 for the offence under s444(1) of failing to secure their child's regular attendance at school; and for prosecutions under s444(1A), the aggravated offence of knowing that their child is failing to attend school regularly. It is possible, because of the way courts record data that some data are collected under the more general heading of various offences under the Education Act 1996.
	The information on the number of parents prosecuted by local authorities in England and Lancashire for failing to secure their children's regular school attendance between 2006 and 2007 (latest available data) is detail in the following table.
	
		
			  N umber of persons proceeded against at magistrates courts for offences under the Education Act 1996 S.444, in the Lancashire police force area, and England, 2006 to 2007( 1,2) 
			Lancashire police force area  England 
			  Statute  Offence description  2006  2007  2006  2007 
			 Education Act 1996 S.444 (1)(8) Failure to secure regular attendance at school. 182 249 4,437 5,903 
			 Education Act 1996 S.444(8)(la)(8a) added by Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000 S.72. Parent knows that their child is failing to attend school regularly and fails without reasonable justification to cause him or her to attend school. 46 43 1,559 1,840 
			 (1) The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  Source: Evidence and Analysis UnitOffice for Criminal Justice Reform, Ministry of Justice

Young People: Voluntary Work

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the Answer of 11 May 2009,  Official Report, columns 598-9W, on young people: voluntary work, what his most recent estimate is of the average cost of a placement as part of the Entry to Employment programme.

Jim Knight: Funding for the Entry to Employment programme will be administered by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). As the information requested is with regard to an operational matter for the LSC, I have asked Geoffrey Russell, the acting LSC chief executive, to write to the hon. Member with the information requested. I will arrange for a copy of his letter to be placed in the House Libraries.

Young People's Learning Agency

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families when he expects the Young People's Learning Agency to be set up; and what mechanisms there will be for the agency to co-operate with specialist independent post-16 institutions.

Jim Knight: Independent Specialist providers of post-16 education and training play an important role in providing education for learners with learning difficulties and disabilities, often with very specific needs and requirements. We recognise the value of having a diverse mix of high quality providers that ensures that our young people are able to access the right course or provision to help them realise their goals and ambitions. We do not feel it is appropriate to centrally guarantee funding streams for particular institutions. Local authorities will need to work in partnership with each other, providers and young people and their families to assess the level of demand in their area and to commission suitable provision that meets young people's needs.
	Provision has been made in clause 40 of the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning (ASCL) Bill to require local authorities, when commissioning provision, to take account of the quality of provision being secured and encourage diversity in the range of education and training on offer to support learner choice. In addition, in deciding whether education and training is suitable to meet young people's reasonable needs, local authorities will be required to have regard to any learning difficulties the persons may have.
	We believe that the transfer to local authorities will have significant benefits in terms of a more informed and integrated commissioning of their services leading to better outcomes for learners. Arrangements are being developed, in consultation with stakeholders, that recognise that independent specialist colleges will often work across local authority boundaries and nationally, and consideration is being given to the need to minimise bureaucracy for these and other learning providers. These arrangements will feed into the statutory guidance being developed for local authorities in respect of their commissioning responsibilities which the Young People's Learning Agency (YPLA) will publish when it comes into being in April 2010, subject to the passage of the ASCL Bill.
	We do not expect the YPLA to be involved in the commissioning of learning provision in the vast majority of cases, although there may be some circumstances where it may need to commission provision directly, for instance:
	where a local authority is failing or looks likely to fail in fulfilling its duties under clauses 40 and 47 of the Bill to commission suitable education or training;
	with a small number of national providers for whom it may be appropriate to commission at a national rather than local level; and
	where the sub regional group (SRG) identifies that they are not yet ready to take on the role.
	In those cases, the YPLA will need to engage those providers, including specialist colleges, to ensure that they are commissioned effectively in response to the needs of young people.